[JackIsLost]

ahhh, i sometimes get frustrated too when i can't understand a quick pace conversation that my girlfriend is having with her friends. i've taken a japanese class since then, and i can pick up the gist of what they say by expression and tid bits.

i think your main problem is that recognizing vocabulary words that is spoken. from what i read you have books piled mile high, but books don't teach your brain how to pick up on a normal sentence. have your wife start out easy on you. "what time is it" "time to eat breakfast" "wake up" then mix it up, and build your ears to the language. your text books and tests really don't help your ears too much. hope i made sense!