A Week in the Life: SOAS edition

Gwilym

It's almost exactly the opposite :smile:

I agree, I think that because SOAS is so small, there is a pretty good community spirit. I've made friends with people who aren't just first years and doing all sorts of degrees. I think that because its such a small university that helps community spirit.

As with regards to societies, there are some ultra active ones and some not so active, as with every SU really. I'm not an active member of any society, but you meet friends so easily if you live in Dinwiddy :biggrin:

And yeah, we usually go out on Wednesdays, and its so easy to organise big nights out (or big nights in in Dinwiddy, which are just as fun :smile:

)

Reply 22

Soxi

Leanne Antonia

Seriously though, when you do come to SOAS just assume that everyone you meet does Japanese...90% chance that they will, and if they are guys they will be called Matt, Alex or Tom.

You forgot James. That's one of the big four, names wise. I just nod when people talk to me about a James, because I'll probably know of them.

No point adding my timetable, it's all already been covered. There are maybe three things that I'll add:
1) Japanese homework is always done in the SU Bar by D group at least, no other place will do;
2) ISLL isn't always incredibly easy to drop if your timetable constraints don't allow the floater that you want (damn Korean culture being at Vernon Square....). Still, there's no exam, that counts for something. And
3) Wednesday afternoons have become either official 'study Japanese language in the media' time periods or 'Quiz Night fun' on alternate weeks. Quiz Night is a must, end of story.

I'll third the motion that Alan is great. And I agree that straight girls seem to greatly outnumber straight guys. You'll meet a lot of different people but you'll definitely make friends, generally from a wide range of courses. (Where has everyone got the idea that SOAS isn't sociable? I never heard that and I'm glad to say that it's definitely the opposite.)

Reply 23

Hikari

What is this "study Japanese in the media" jazz? Wednesday for me = sleep day :shifty:

Also, every night at midnight, all the Japanese students [and Leanne :tongue:

] hold a midnight prayer ceremony to celebrate Kashiwagi-sensei :yep:

Reply 24

Eragon452

2

Soxi

You forgot James. That's one of the big four, names wise. I just nod when people talk to me about a James, because I'll probably know of them.

No point adding my timetable, it's all already been covered. There are maybe three things that I'll add:
1) Japanese homework is always done in the SU Bar by D group at least, no other place will do;
2) ISLL isn't always incredibly easy to drop if your timetable constraints don't allow the floater that you want (damn Korean culture being at Vernon Square....). Still, there's no exam, that counts for something. And
3) Wednesday afternoons have become either official 'study Japanese language in the media' time periods or 'Quiz Night fun' on alternate weeks. Quiz Night is a must, end of story.

I'll third the motion that Alan is great. And I agree that straight girls seem to greatly outnumber straight guys. You'll meet a lot of different people but you'll definitely make friends, generally from a wide range of courses. (Where has everyone got the idea that SOAS isn't sociable? I never heard that and I'm glad to say that it's definitely the opposite.)

I dropped out because it wasn't sociable :laughing:

I ended up in a flat with entirely post grads and everyone on my course was foreign.

Reply 25

Hikari

What is this "study Japanese in the media" jazz? Wednesday for me = sleep day :shifty:

Also, every night at midnight, all the Japanese students [and Leanne :tongue:

] hold a midnight prayer ceremony to celebrate Kashiwagi-sensei :yep:

We all love a bit of Kashiwagi-sensei, even those who haven't had the honour of being taught by her. Anyway, I'm going to climb Mt. Everest with her :yep:

Reply 26

Gwilym

I'd just like to point out that Yuffie was probably really really unlucky with her flatmates - mine are all postgrad and foreign too, but we get on pretty well.

Reply 27

Yeah I think Yuffie was so unlucky. I know I've been really lucky....I think you have too Hikari :P...well I hope you think so LOL.

Reply 28

Gwilym

it almost feels like we're talking in code here

Reply 29

fourr

apart from to you, Gwilym.

Reply 30

Hikari

Leanne: I am in agreement :tongue:

. Not only is everyone in our flat really talkative and friendly, but everyday we're told tales from the magical land of Bradford LOL.

Yeah though, from what I gather almost everyone is really happy with their roomates, I'd say it's the minority that isn't. Besides, even if you don't make friends with your roomates, just spend your time with other people.

*btw everyone is back on TSR* :woo:

Reply 31

Soxi

Hikari

Leanne: I am in agreement :tongue:

. Not only is everyone in our flat really talkative and friendly, but everyday we're told tales from the magical land of Bradford LOL.

Yeah though, from what I gather almost everyone is really happy with their roomates, I'd say it's the minority that isn't. Besides, even if you don't make friends with your roomates, just spend your time with other people.

*btw everyone is back on TSR* :woo:

I love the fact that we're all back on TSR - it makes us seem mysterious again, even though I'll be seeing you all after sleep day, a.k.a Thursday. (NOT Wednesday, Hikari, seeing as we actually have classes and therefore cannot sleep in. Studying Japanese media is a much better use of the time, preparing us for sleep day.)

As I can't comment on flatemates, seeing as I'm still at home, I've probably more to complain about socialising-wise, but I don't think it's really that much of a problem. I still get to mix with lots of people, not all from my course, and go and do things. It seems like it's a luck of the draw when it comes to flatmates, but most people seem very lucky. Yuffie, you must have been in the minority :frown:

Reply 32

Hikari

Sleep day starts from 1:30pm Wednesday and ends at 2pm Thursday :yep:

[I'd be asleep now if I didn't have an essay to read for.] Besides, unlike you lazy single subjecters, I have no free day, so :troll:

at you

Reply 33

Socrates

OP

17

Leanne Antonia

I know...I mean, who does he think he is?

I think I've yet to meet a straight guy at SOAS....or at least a non metrosexual one.

:p:

Hey, you've met me :p:

Reply 34

Eien

16

Well I am in Waseda, Tokyo, now, but I can describe an ordinary week in SOAS, although I took a gap year, so it's around 2 years ago I started at uni now! I take Japanese and Korean and I went into second year since I had already studied it at A-level, although I only ended up taking language classes...

Monday:

Grammar and vocabulary - a general core lesson by Tanaka-Sensei, introducing the week's text in the textbook. The second half of the year used a book with no English, even with the explanations - it seemed daunting at the time, but now it's a case of "atari mae jan?" :p:

Listening comprehension in Japanese with Kawabata sensei, which always provided some amusement, either from her, or the material we used.

Writing and Reading - this started off with learning hangul and progressing to lessons based heavily on grammar and translation.

Tuesday

Just Korean - mainly aural and oral skills, normally including roleplays.

Wednesday

Reading class - probably the class (along with translation) that requires more than just memory - it included reading through Japanese texts with a fine toothed comb and fully understanding the text. Often my answers would be "technically" correct since I found the content reasonably straightforward, especially after it had been explained, but often (as with most people) I was always greeted with red scribblings all over my answer sheet where I had not completely answered the question or not put things which I thought could be inferred from the answer I already gave!

Speaking - This would include role play and learning oral expressions including those from every day life up to situations requiring Keigo (politer forms of Japanese)

Korean class - similar to Monday

Thursday

Again, just Korean - similar class to Tuesday.

Friday

The busiest day - it started from 10 non stop through until 3pm...yowch...actually now I have it even worse since I have Wednesdays at Waseda from 10:40 through to 17:50, (albeit with Lunch of course).

First is the Kanji quiz, which involves writing down a dictation from the teacher, which normally includes the week's kanji, although sometimes, Kanji from previous weeks would also sneak in - we would then translate those sentences as well. Then, similarly to Monday, we would review grammar.

Translation - one of my favourite classes - we would prepare translations of certain paragraphs and 4 volunteers would write theirs on the board, and then the teacher would cover the translations highlighting errors and explaining the best translations.

Writing - this class (with the legendary Kashiwagi Sensei) This would often involve writing essays or short texts and discuss writing techniques.

Korean - similar lesson to Monday/Wednesday.

Actually writing that brings back a lot of memories....

Tuesday:

Reply 35

Undiscovery

Hikari

but everyday we're told tales from the magical land of Bradford LOL.

edited

Reply 36

Gwilym

oh Bradford, land of hideous architecture and ethnic tension ... I'll write an ode about it someday.
It's also worth pointing out that the last 2 weeks before Christmas have been by faaaar the busiest in terms of workload. A2 coursework feels like a walk in the park in comparison.

Reply 37