森の池のも押し込み

(cross-posted to japanese)

I'm applying for a number of positions at 森の池, a Japanese language immersion summer camp, and for my application I had to basically write a purpose/goal statement in Japanese. The prompt is "Describe why you want to work at the Language Villages and, if hired, the goals you will set for yourself."

I started with an English version, which goes as follows:
I love the study of foreign languages as well as linguistics, and in order to have the opportunity to study these throughout my lifetime I have decided to pursue a career in foreign language teaching. Besides getting an undergraduate minor in (teaching) English as a Second Language, working at Concordia Language Villages will allow me to reinforce my knowledge of (German/Japanese), and to gain valuable experience in immersion language teaching. If hired, I will join the villagers in pushing myself to strengthen my spoken abilities in the (German/Japanese) by only speaking in that language, and will observe the methods used by the language teachers to improve my own teaching abilities.

And here's my Japanese translation:
私は外国語も言語学も大好きなので、それを一生学べるように外国語の教育を業とすることにお決めしたんです。第二言語としての英語に副専攻する以外に、森の池で働くことになれば日本語の性能を良くしたり、大切な没入外国語教育の経験を得たりできるはずだと思います。雇っていただくなら、ヴィラジャーと共に口頭の日本語の能力を改善するために日本語だけで話して頑張ります。それに、自分の教育能力を改善するために先生の教え方をできるだけよく見学いたすようにします。

First, I was hoping that if there are any glaring errors or minor tweaks that could be made, that you could point them out to me. The following are some of the concerns I have already:
知識VS能力：can you use 知識 to refer to language knowledge? or would that too stronly imply formal knowledge of grammar, etc.?
ヴィラジャー：at the Concordia Language Camps, campers are called “villagers”
What are the major differences between 改善する・強化する・良くする・改良する?
How important is varying ones vocabulary throughout a composition in Japanese? Would it be bad if I used one word for “improve” throughout the essay?
And, of course, when do I want to go how far with keigo? (I tried to judge this by putting the parts that were the most “forward” in 尊敬語, but I’m afraid it came out a bit awkward nonetheless.

I will be submitting my application online on Wednesday night (around midnight or so, central time), so if anyone has any advice, if you could comment by Wednesday afternoon, it would be much appreciated.




以上です。
So, tomorrow I have to do my German translation. Shite.
Should I go to bed, or get a little bit of a start on that? I think I may just brush my teeth, turn of the lights, watch an episode of Heroes on my iPod in bed, and then go to sleep.

P.S. Note to self: FUCKING CALL THE FUCKING DENTISTRY SCHOOL TO SEE IF YOU CAN GET YOUR FUCKING CAVITIES FILLED!!! TODAY!!!!!

the gods must be smiling down on me ^^;

Holy shit... For some reason, my freshman comp. teacher gave me 75/80 on my Analysis Paper. After it was turned in 9-10 days late. I should have lost at least 27 points, not to mention I'm fucking amazed that I even would get 75/80 as a base grade.
On top of that:
Excellent analysis, Nastassja. This paper is a fine piece of work. Sorry you weren't able to make our last meeting, but if you want discuss your final paper, please let me know. Karen
......
Wow.

(I half wonder if not losing that 27 points was an accident, but I'm sure as hell not going to bring it up.)

dental stuffses

Hmm... I just called the school of dentistry, and it turns out that they're about 30% cheaper than it would be otherwise without insurance.
I should probably talk to dad about this tonight...
I wonder if I can get insurance again this summer just by being registered to take classes full time in the fall?

[EDIT: Nope, not unless I take classes at whatever the University considers to be full-time this summer.]

soon I won't need it written down in my planner anymore

Yay! I almost have my password memorized. I just entered it in correctly without looking once at the post-it I have stuck to my monitor. ^_^

Lyle Lovett

[Poll #946200]

P.S. Black tea is bitter. But I need the caffeine. (Heh, Mohinder Suresh sounds funny when he pronounces caffeine. But that's such a wonderful quote: "Hope is great. We need caffeine.")

notes on my Waldsee bit (to be updated throughout the night)

"Wenn ich vermieten werden wird"
That sounds really, really weird. :-/

I created a German playlist in iTunes. Figured it might help get my mind in the right mode. And from that, I decided to see if there's any Nena on the iTunes store. Apparently there's a really good comeback album from 2005 that's all in German (the 99 Luftbalons album is about half English) called Willst du mit mir gehen. Want...

Shit... I just realized, I should be re-writing my Waldsee app. to include my plans to go to grad. school in Germany. But I don't want to re-work my essay! I suppose the question is, do I modify it directly in German, or re-write it in English first and then translate it?

Hmmm, they have Fettes Brot on iTunes too. Good to know.