As it stands the level of Japanese that I can understand FAR surpasses the level I can speak at. Can this be the cause? I can understand so much, but when it comes time to speak, I still feel like I am in first level Japanese. Is this a deficiency in my study? Not speaking enough? Is it natural?
In first level, the questions were like, "Which man is wearing a green hat?" Now the questions are "What are the benefits of vegetarian lifestyle?" When it comes time to try and participate, I wish I was still looking for the guy in the green hat. That gave me the satisfaction of being easily answerable.
How come I feel intimidated in class but not with my Japanese girlfriend? Ok, maybe that seems obvious, but if I can confidently speak Japanese with a Japanese person, why does my brain freeze when talking with Chinese and Koreans in my class?
I have to be aware that I am improving, and not give up when it's time to do these exercises in class. This level is hard, and even if I still suck at the end, I want to say, "Well, I did my best, and I suck a little less than when I started."