quark wrote:

ta12121 wrote:

Most of the Japanese Studies I do are at home, but now that I have a laptop. I can pretty much do it anywhere in school now. If it was me, I'd just use it as means of meeting more people but I've had the occasional dirty states on the bus+at school.
One time I heard this Japanese girl talking on her phone, inside the bus. I was thinking whether to talk but I decided might as well just listen in(not be a stalker or anything but I can't undo my listening skills in jp lol)

I was actually on the other end of this today.  I was getting on the bus, while reading Ouran Host Club.  This Japanese woman beside me looked shocked, and asked if I was reading it in Japanese, and if I could understand it.  Admittedly, my understanding is spotty, but we ended up having a conversation, about 3/4 of it in Japanese.  For me to converse with someone mainly in Japanese is a huge deal, because, well, my Japanese is really bad.  Reading Japanese while out and about pays off sometimes.
Oh, and I'm the same as you. I can't muster up the courage to initiate a conversation with a Japanese person.  The fear of them being annoyed with me, or thinking I'm an idiot is too strong.

I've found that, it gets easier over time. I used to suck at reading/listening to Jp. Now it's the other way around, my speaking/writing are not to the level of my reading/listening. Then again, it's just a matter of putting in the time, to improve. I have a feeling that, just trying, is the way to succeed here.

quark wrote:

ta12121 wrote:

I've found that, it gets easier over time. I used to suck at reading/listening to Jp. Now it's the other way around, my speaking/writing are not to the level of my reading/listening. Then again, it's just a matter of putting in the time, to improve. I have a feeling that, just trying, is the way to succeed here.

My reading is probably the strongest out of everything, although even that needs a lot of work.  There were quite a few spots in the conversation where I didn't understand what she was saying to me, so I just kept nodding my head and saying ”うん。　そう　そう。　うん。”
Like you said though, it's all a matter of practicing as much as possible, and eventually it will just come naturally.

There is another factor in learning another language, there is no way one can know everything. It really comes down to one thing, keep learning and will you be fine. The goal for learning a new language is usually, to get that 90% mark(there's always going to be that 5% or 10% of unknown words). Any language is like this, even one's native language. So it really comes down to putting in the time. I've found that, even though I'm half way to my goal of complete fluency, there is still so much to be learn(doesn't matter if you can understand/read the majority of what comes your way or even if you can speak just as well as your native language). Learning is a life-long journey.

quark wrote:

This Japanese woman beside me looked shocked, and asked if I was reading it in Japanese, and if I could understand it.

I had this happen once when I was working through a light novel. I couldn't read it all but an old man next to literally jumped when he looked and saw it was a novel....in Japanese. He was quite shocked. That he actually talked to me on the train. Reading Japanese can help because it can let people know that "hey, I know Japanese!" and give them the courage to say something to you. How well you reply tends to effect how far the conversation continues.

maybe she's powerhungry and wants you to listen to her so she has some control.

you never know.