Victoria Wilson

Tip: Have faith

How do you learn a language? The same way you learned to walk... one step at a time. There are no magic shoes (no matter what the shoe shop assistant may tell you). There is no substitute for being brave enough to take a step, achieving a little, soon wobbling and then falling over. more »

FCO and Accenture papers on China released today

"Foreign Secretary David Miliband in Manchester" by Foreign & Commonwealth Office

UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband launched a new framework today for the development of our national relationship with China. The report highlights issues such as sustainable development, the environment and China's increasing influence on the global stage. You can read or download the report on the FCO... more »

We wish you a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!

"Christmas Kitty" by Tavallai

The supermarket shelves have been stacked with mince pies for months, the carol muzak is beginning to wear out, and the decorations have been in the mall so long nobody notices them any more. It must be time for Christmas!! Somehow, despite the advanced warning and good intentions, those cards you bought weeks ago are still waiting to be written.
 
It'd be great to ... more »

Learn Japanese online with these great websites

Koichi

Recently Koichi over at Tofugu listed his top ten online tools for studying Japanese. His list includes some great old favourites, and some fab new sites I had never encountered. There are detailed explanations for why each site is on Koichi's top ten over at his site, as well as a twenty minute (two part) Youtube video presenting screenshots of the features.
 
A few days ago I also ran ... more »

Intelligent analysis; East Asia official reports and journals

"Prime Minister Gordon Brown meets President Hu of China" by Foreign & Commonwealth Office

On Sunday, the Foreign Affairs Committee published a report entitled "Global Security: Japan and Korea". The report has been produced to address concerns over North Korea's nuclear position, but there is also a great volume of information included about the political and economic climate in Japan and... more »

Pimsleur Japanese transcript / notes

"日本語の試験を勉強する時" by Wesley Oostvogels.

Since the beginning of October my language study time has been spent typing up Pimsleur notes. With such a backlog, working on them alongside other study was prolonging the exercise. It's been thankless because I'm not learning anything new, but it will definitely be worthwhile. Electronic notes can be added to my Anki deck, and they don't make my lounge me... more »