I am eager to learn Japanese because I want to effectively communicate with some of my relatives, who only speak Japanese. I believe that by taking this course, I will be able to speak confidently and fluently at a conversational level with my family and other Japanese speakers. Furthermore, because I am half Japanese, I want to learn more about the language and Japanese culture. In my opinion, language serves as the basis for how people express and share ideas, cultural nuances, and experiences. And to fully understand Japanese culture, I need to learn the language first. I have also been to Japan three times. Me in Japan a few years ago. After a few weeks of Japanese Class, I can finally read what some of those words say. Here, I am familiarizing myself with the warm waters surrounding Japan. Just another day at the beach. If I remember correctly, this is the Golden Tea Pavilion in Kyoto. I took this photo during my second trip to Japan. During this tim...