Final Reflection

Last Reflection

When I decided to study Japanese, I never had in mind that I would have to do some translations and interpreting too between English and Japanese. As English is my second language I felt intimidated by it, even though until now I have never had any problem with my English skills. However I have always thought that when I have to translate from Japanese to English, my English became less natural, because in my head I can have the whole context but putting them into a sentence sometimes it can be hard at times.

My feelings at first when I learnt about doing a portfolio related to our major actually worried me. As when I was in high school I had tried to keep a blog several times but I wasn’t consistent enough and at the end I never finished it. Also I am not the kind of person that is good with technology, so for me using “Wordpress.com” was actually a struggle, that’s how bad I am with technology and internet.

Since I started studying Japanese I had to do some translation assignments for example Japanese food recipes, children stories, legal certificates and so on. But I have always done it in paper using dictionary only. Now I can see that there are so many different tools that can help with translations such as “google translate, Eijiro, Rikai-kun, imtranslator.net, Babylon” and more.

I also did have some struggles during this I-reflect course, such as misunderstanding and problem with my computer. At first I guess I didn’t understand very well what we had to do, just translate? What should I translate? It took me a while to decide what topic I would chose to translate, at first I had thought of translating music interviews and also some formal documents, but doing this i-reflect course meant that I could translate any topic I’ve chosen, so I decided to translate something more interesting for myself and also something that might interest the readers, who might not gone to Japan before. This is why I was a few weeks behind, also the only time I could do i-reflect work was when I was at AUT because my computer has a virus, and sometimes I had to use my classmates laptop.

Some other struggles were just a few words that were hard to translate at times, because I was either unable to find them at the dictionary or because they are something unique to Japan and its impossible to translate, for example for “Oobanyaki” which is a Japanese sweets to I decided to add under the translation what it was and between brackets the resource of the information.

If I have to evaluate my work, it isn’t completed, I think to become a translator your language skills are never enough, you have to keep learning new grammar and lexis that will help you improve your translation skills. Also even though my first language is Spanish, I also think that I should be trying to improve my first language more and more, by reading different types of books (jargon differs depending the types of context) listening and speaking more. At the moment my future plan is not to become a Japanese- English translator, because I would like to either enter the Tourism field or Education field, which I have a background for both of them. But being able to translate from three different languages does open your path even wider.

How should I keep improving? I think when you are learning a language you are constantly improving either speaking, writing or reading as long as you are immerse in the target language. As for me, as I do want to improve my three language I think I should be reading and writing more in those three languages, I am considering of continuing “wordpress.com” and try to write articles in Japanese, English and Spanish as it will help me to keep improving and being more constant with my work. Also I should probably try to get more people’s opinion about my translation such as native speakers to check if the context of the text makes sense or not. Also, to improve my  proof-reading after each translation.

What have I learnt on the way? While trying to find text regarding the topic I wanted to translate I did learn various things related to Japanese culture and tourism places. Also some of the vocabulary in the text was complete new to me.

What I regret not doing over the weeks? I regret not being able to catch up on my weekly plan, my last three weeks I did them on time at home, just writing them on  paper and checking the dictionary, however as I didn’t have a computer at home, the only time I had to typed them was when I was at AUT. Also I did share my blog at google+ but I did not get many comments and I did not comment on my peer’s blogs. I did keep an eye to some of my classmates work as it helped me to see what I was supposed to do and to get some ideas on how and where to improve. I even added them on my blog so I could get an alert when they posted on their blog, but I am not sure if I “followed” them correctly or not, as I am new to wordpress.

 

References

Altalang (May 9, 2008). 5 Steps to Becoming a Professional Translator. Retrieved from:

http://www.altalang.com/beyond-words/2008/05/09/5-steps-to-becoming-a-translator/

The gits blog (October 5, 2008) Becoming a better translator. Retrieved from:

http://ginstrom.com/scribbles/2008/10/05/advancing-in-translation-career/

 

 

Week 12

2階建てバスで手軽に東京観光

Travel in Tokyo easily in the double deck bus

東京の街を効率的に巡るツアーとして人気のスカイバス。

Skybus is an efficient and popular tour through Tokyo city

赤い大きな2階建てバスの販売席は、2階のオープ ンエアの席のみで、風を感じながら、ちょっと高い目線で東京観光をすることができます。

The sale of the big double-deck red bus, is that you can have a tour at Tokyo city while feeling the wind in the open air second floor.

ルートは丸の内から、皇居、国会議事堂、霞ヶ関、銀座と、東京駅周辺の見どころを約50分でぐるりと一周。

The route goes around the Imperial Palace, Parliament House, Japanese Government Departments, Ginza and around Tokyo station that can be seen within 50 minutes.

丁寧な案内ガイド付きで、東京タワー・レインボーブリッジや夜景のコースもあります。

There is also a night view course,Tokyo Tower and Rainbow Bridge tour course with a courteous tourist guide.

予約は乗車の1ヶ月前から可能です。

Reservations are available to make a month prior the tour.

また、2012年から新たにスタートしたサービス、「スカイホップバス」は乗り降り自由のアクティブ観光に便利なバス。

Also, from 2012 a new service started called ” Sky hop bus”, where you can get on and off the bus freely at the convenient tourist spots.

チケットは、1日（24時間）券・2日（48時間）券の2種類で、コースは3つ（浅草・東京スカイツリー®コース／お台場コース／六本木・東京タワーコース）。

The tickets are one day pass (24 hours), two day pass (48 hours), the two types of tickets have 3 courses (Asakusa, Tokyo Sky Tree course-  Odaiba course – Roppongi and Sky Tower Course)

有効期限内であれば、同じチケットで、いずれのコースにも乗車可能です。

As long as the ticket is still valid you can use the same ticket to ride the bus for any course.

各コース1時間に1本の運行。

Each course service take one hour.

待ち時間は約1時間となるので、次の停留所まで散策したり、カフェでひと休みしたり、街歩きも楽しめます。

Waiting time its about one hour, so you can walk until the next station, rest at a cafe or enjoy a walk around.

運行スケジュールは公式HPでご確認を！

The confirmation of the service schedule can be seen on the official home page.

お台場夜景コース：120分2,000円（税込み）
＊毎週金・土運行。
＊途中アクアシティお台場にて60分の休憩あり。

Odaiba night view course: 120 minutes 2000 yen (including tax)
-Services every Friday and Saturday
-There is a 60 minute break on the middle of the way of Aqua City, Odaiba.

Text from: tokyobookmark.net/selections/detail/2213?dept=4

Week 11

深川丼（ふかがわどん）

 Fukagawa don

深川丼とは、あさりやはまぐり、ねぎ、油揚げ、野菜などを味噌で煮込み、ご飯にかけたどんぶりの事。

Fukagawa-don is a bowl of rice topped with asari clams, green onions, deep-fried tofu, vegetables and such in a miso stew.

江戸時代末期、江戸深川の漁師が船上で食べたのが発祥とされる。

It was originated by the end of Edo period by Fukugawa’s fisherman who ate on board the ship.

かつて江戸深川は海に面しており、あさりがよく取れていたため値段も手ごろで、忙しい合間にも素早く作れてしかも栄養価も高い事から漁師達に好まれた。

At one time Fukagawa Edo faced, an affordable price for taking asari clams, even in the busy interval they could take them and were also very high in nutrients so it became well liked by fishermen.
現在も江東区の深川と門前仲町付近で、深川丼を提供する料理店が多い。

Even now in Fukagawa Kato and Monzen-Nakachou’s neighborhood there are a lot of restaurants that provide “Fukagawa-don”.
また、同じ材料を使った炊き込みご飯を、「深川飯」と呼ぶ。

Also, the dish using the same ingredients but cooked together with the rice is called “Fukagawa-meshi”

2007年、農林水産省により農山漁村の郷土料理百選に、東京都の郷土料理として「くさや」と共に選ばれた。

On 2007 according to Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan, from a selection of 100 local cuisine, it was chosen as Tokyo’s local cuisine along with “Kusaya”

**Kusaya= horse mackerel dipped in salt water and dried in the sun (SpaceAlc)

Text from: local-specialties.com/gourmet/000154.html

 

Week 10

Tokyo Anime centre

UDXビル内の「東京アニメセンター」では、各種の企画展や声優のトークショー、アニメの上映などアニメに関するイベントやラジオの公開録音が行われている。

Inside the building of UDX there is “Tokyo Anime centre” where they have all kind of exhibitions, voice actor talk shows, events about anime screening and radio public recordings are done.

アニメショップもあり、アフレコ体験もできる(台本、インストラクションは日本語のみ)。

There is also an anime shop and a place where you can experience post recording (the script and instruction is only in Japanese).

アニメ情報以外にもマップなども置かれ、秋葉原の街情報も入手できる。

Not only information regarding anime, but information about Akihabara can be found as well.

様々なアニメのキャラクターグッズやここでしか買えないオリジナルグッズが多数。

There is a big quantity of various anime characters goods and original goods that can only be found here.

来所したゲストのタレントや声優さんがサインを書いたレジボードは必見。

Talent guest and voice actor’s sign board is a must see.

 

ガンダムカフェ

Gundam café

2010年にオープンしたばかりの「GUNDAM Cafe」。

On 2010 a café opened of merely “GUNDAM café”

バンダイの運営する、「機動戦士ガンダム」の情報を発信するカフェだ。

It’s a café that manages Bandai which transmit information of “mobile suit Gundam”

JR秋葉原駅電気街口から徒歩1分。

It’s one minute from the electronics quarter exit in Akihabara JR train station.

60席の店内では、南米のコーヒー豆を同店専用にブレンドした「ジャブローコーヒー」など、ガンダムをイメージしたメニューを味わえる。

Inside the café there are 60 seats, where you can taste specially blended in store coffee beans from south America such as “ Jaburo coffee” which reflects the image of Gundam menu

また1/144スケールのガンプラをモチーフにした大判焼き「ガンプラ焼」のテイクアウトもできる。

Also there is a gundam plastic model theme Oban-yaki scaled 1 out of 144 called “ Gampura yaki”, it can also be ordered as take away

ガンダム作品や関連商品の情報発信基地として、初心者から熱心なファンまで、幅広い層がガンダムの世界観を楽しめるカフェ。

As the information center facilities “Gundam” goods and goods related to it for newbies to enthusiastic fans, the cafe lets you enjoy a broad range of the Gundam world.
営業時間:10:00-23:00(月-金)、8:30-23:00（土曜日）、8.30-21:00(日祝)

 

Opening hours is from 10:00 until 23:00 from Monday to Friday.
Saturday from 8:30 until 23:00
Sundays and holidays from 8:30 until 21:00

 

Text from: www.gotokyo.org/jp/tourists/areas/areamap/akihabara.html#tmp_header

 **Oobanyaki is is a Japanese dessert often found at festivals. It is made of batter in a special pan (similar to a waffle iron but without the honeycomb pattern), and filled with sweet azuki bean paste or vanilla custard. (wikipedia)

 

 

Week 9

太平洋を取り囲む自然環境を再現した世界最大級の水族館。

The largest aquarium in the world has reproduced the natural environment that surrounds the Pacific Ocean.

飼育展示されている生き物の数は580種、80,000点にのぼる。

There are 580 species being breed in exhibition which is up to 80,000 creatures.

同館で1番の人気者・ジンベエザメやイトマキエイなどが悠々と泳ぐ巨大な水槽「太平洋」をはじめ、熱帯魚が泳ぐトンネル型の水槽「魚の通り抜け・アクアゲート」、ペンギンたちのいる「南極大陸」など、趣向さまざまな水槽が魅力。

The most popular at the museum is the big “Pacific Ocean” aquarium such as the whale shark and the mobulidae that swim leisurely,

The favourite at the museum includes a whale shark and mobulidae that swim leisurely at a large “Pacific Ocean” aquarium, tropical fishes that swim in a tunnel-like  aquarium “fish walkthrough aqua gate”,  and penguins from Antarctica are some of the various aquarium ideas that are attractive.

海遊館の建物全体で『環太平洋生命帯』を表現しているといい、見学者はいったん8階まで上がった後、スロープを下りながら、10の地域に生きるさまざまな魚たちや海の表情を間近に見ることができる。

The whole building of the Kaiyukan is referred as the expression of “Pacific Rim life zone”, once the visitors go up to the 8th floor, while they go down the ramp they will be able to see from close  expressions from the sea and various fish from 10 regions.

 

クラゲばかりを展示した「ふあふあクラゲ館」も人気。

An only exhibition of jelly fish called “bouncy jelly fish hall” is also very popular.

再入館手続きをすれば、当日なら何度でも入館可能。

If you do an re-entry procedure, on that day you can enter as many times as possible

夜5時以降に入場すれば、魚たちの夜の生態も垣間見える。

If you enter from 5 o’clock on wards, you can also have a glimpse of the night ecosystem fish.

 

text from: www.osaka-info.jp/jp/search/detail/sightseeing_549.html

 

Week 8 Reflection

For my second translation I had chosen to do a translation related to Osaka’s typical food. I took the text from a website where they explain what it it, when it was originated and when do Japanese people usually eat it.

I think it is a must try for people who are interested in Japan and would like to visit.

My translation are separated sentence by sentence instead of the whole context separated. Which I think it’s much better to look where I am. However the first sentence it’s a bit long. It wasn’t that hard to translate as it is more like hot to prepare the takoyaki, but I didn’t know how to put into natural English “丸く焼き上げ” which means to bake/ fry the takoyaki by turning it around as a circle. As the takoyaki shape is like a small ball, a special electric fry pan is used “たこ焼き器”. I also wasn’t sure how to translate that, as the dictionary gave me a few options such as takoyaki pan, takoyaki oven, etc..

Other struggle than that, would be that I am not too confident with my English, I keep thinking, is it natural enough? is it understandable? I do try to proof read my translations, but if I have made a mistake, probably will take me a while to notice.

However I feel more comfortable with this translation instead of the one in week 7.

Goal for next week:

*Try to translate a longer text- I think the text I have translated for week 8 wasn’t too long or too complicated. I don’t want to translate very difficult text but not too easy either as I want to improve my reading, understanding and translating skills rather then keep the same level.

*More natural English – Probably for my next translation I might try and  ask for advice from my friends, to make sure that it is understandable and clear enough.

Week 7 reflection

For my translation in week 7 I had decided to write about Osaka city such as its history. It can also be seen that I did plan that on my weekly plan. However I didn’t find much information in Japanese, well, at least not like what I had in mind. So I had decided to translate a text still related to Osaka city, which its about a place which its popular to see the cherry blossoms on April. Cherry blossom viewing it’s very popular in Japan as people gather together to have a BBQ while enjoying the view, and I think if I want to introduce people more about Japanese tourism, this was a good start.

I think for this translation, what I struggled with was the name of the flowers, as I don’t have much knowledge about flower names either in Japanese or in English. I wasn’t sure at first that they were talking about flowers, I actually thought maybe it was name of places where you could find them. To have a clear mind I not only tried to translate it (dictionaries that I have used didn’t have any flower name translation) I searched for pictures too.

Also there was a word that I did not know, and I wasn’t sure if it was used in English:

Japan Mint (独立行政法人 造幣局 Dokuritsu Gyōsei Hōjin Zōheikyoku) is an Incorporated Administrative Agency of the Japanese government. This agency has its Head office in Osaka with branches in Tokyo and Hiroshima. (Wikipedia 2014)

My goal for the next weeks:

As English is not my first language I have to try and translate it into more natural English. Sometimes I struggle with translations because in my mind I have an idea of how I want to translate it, but it is hard to put it down into perfect English grammar.

Also I am kind of new to blogging, I would like to learn how to use it in different ways, such as how do I insert a website link without having to put the whole address?

 

 

Week 8

たこ焼き
Takoyaki

たこ焼きとは、小麦粉を水かだし汁で溶いたものを、専用の鉄板に流し込み、中に細かく刻んだタコ、えび、粉末かつお、青のり、紅しょうが、ネギなどを入れて丸く焼き上げた大阪発祥の食べ物。

Takoyaki is a dish originated from Osaka, a batter made from flour and water is poured into a special grill, at the center finely chopped octopus is added with shrimps, bonito powder, seaweed, ginger pickles, green onion etc. and then bake them roundly.

大阪にはかつて、しょう油で食べる「ちょぼ焼き」という物があり、それがたこ焼きのルーツと考えられている。
There was a time in Osaka when there was dish called “choubo yaki” which it was eaten with soy sauce, it is said that, that’s the root of the takoyaki.

昭和初期頃より、たこ焼きは縁日などの屋台で売られるようになり、終戦後は東京など大阪以外の都市でも見られるようになった。

From the early Showa Era, takoyaki has been sold in food stalls such as in fairs, and after the war it could be found in other cities out of Osaka, such as Tokyo.

現在、関西ではたこ焼き器が広く普及しており、昼食や夕食としての他、おやつなどとしても食べられる事が多い
Recently, the takoyaki oven has been widely used in the Kansai area. Takoyaki can be often eaten as a lunch, dinner or as snacks.

 

Text from: http://local-specialties.com/gourmet/000221.html

Week 7

大阪・造幣局の桜（一般公開は本日4月17日まで）

Osaka’s cherry blossoms Mint Bureau (Open to the public until the 17th of April)

大阪市内にある造幣局は桜の名称として知られる場所。

At the city center of Osaka there is located a Mint bureau which is well-known for its cherry blossoms.

毎年4月中旬頃の桜の開花時には、期間限定で同敷地内の通路を一般花見客のために開放する。

Each year on the middle of April when the cherry blossoms are blooming, the same premise path is open for public viewers for a limited time.

見物客は満開の桜を見ながら通路を通り抜けるので「桜の通り抜け」と呼ばれる。

While the spectators are walking through the path, they can see the cheery blossoms in full bloom, this is called “sakura no toorinuke”.

造幣局で楽しむことができる桜は大半が遅咲きの八重桜で、毎年「今年の桜」が選ばれる。

Most of the late-bloomed double cherry blossoms can be enjoyed at the Mint, which is selected every year as “Cherry blossoms of the year”

今年の桜は北海道松前の「松前琴糸桜」で何枚も重なり合うように咲く花弁がとても美しい（写真左）。

This year the cherry blossoms from Hokkaido Matsumae in “Matsumae kotoito zakura” are blooming overlapping with each other, which is very beautiful. (image on the left)

写真 真中は、大手毬（おおてまり）。

The picture at the center is a Japanese snowball.

手毬のような丸い形が特徴的。

This cherry blossom features a rounding shape like a small ball

  成が困難として知られ造幣局以外ではほとんど見られない珍種。

This kind of species is hard to grow that is why you can hardly see it outside of Mint.
写真　右は、紅華（こうか）。

The picture on the right is “Kouka”.

濃い紅色が特徴でとても華やかに咲く。

The cherry blossom features deep pink color and very gorgeous.

Text from:  “Kansai Window” 

Website: http://www.kansai.gr.jp/mt51/plugins/KWTourismNews/news-search.cgi?__mode=detail&lang_code=ja&id=809&news_cat=21

Brief 1- Reflective practice

–          What are reflective practice and reflective writing?

Reflective practice is a process where we stop and think about our own experience, analyzing our decision making and reflect on it. Reflective writing is a practice in which the writer describes a real or imagined scene, event, interaction, passing thought, memory, or observation in either essay or poetic form.

–          How does reflective practice enhance learning?

Reflective practice encourage us to learn from our own previous experience, that is how was reflect on what we have done and helps us to improve ourselves

 

What are the stages of reflective practice?