I’m a shut in and my ex never had the patience to speak to me in Japanese.
I was ignorant and happy in a bubble where I assumed we would be together forever.
I think that it’s fine to live in a country and not speak the language, a lot of people do it. They may have moved for work or other reasons and not necessarily interested in the language or culture as such.
There is only really a problem when you try to bend the country towards you; complaining about people not speaking YOUR language (or English), getting passed over for jobs that require you to speak the local language etc.
As long as you can live your life without being a burden to others, I say more power to you.
Perhaps that you don’t plan on living in Japan long term?
Otherwise, why wouldn’t you want to make life easier for yourself?
I speak Japanese well enough to get by, and I used to aspire to becoming fluent. However, I speak mostly English at work, my wife is fluent (even though she speaks to me in Japanese more and more as time goes on), and various other circumstances have just killed my motivation to improve.
Actually, I’ve lived in Japan for many years, and have raised non-(/native Japanese speaker kids here), but I myself don’t speak Japanese to any level of fluency – basic if that. I started with Numbers – that’s the easy thing – oddly similar to roman numerals, and when shopping you need to know what you’re needing to pay. The rest just followed like basic stuff for directing a Taxi, etc. Enough to get by with, especially, when you have a Partner who does the “Heavy Lifting” in Japanese for you… but when they go… that becomes the Ultimate problem.
I wonder – has anyone else encountered that issue before, and how have they handled it ?
I tell people I do speak Japanese and that they shouldn’t assume I don’t due to my looks
It’s hard that’s why. I’m trying to learn but I’m here for work.
I don’t engage in a conversation with ignorant people 😌 Just say: none of your business.
A lot of corporate transferees come over because of specific skills. The person you are speaking with may have been in Japan one to 3 years and working the entire time, so it is pretty understandable.
Eikaiwa teachers spend their whole day in English. Many, many years ago when I taught at NOVA for a year, they actually preferred people who didn’t speak Japanese because they didn’t want the teachers to try to use Japanese to explain grammar points or to practice on the students. The hours generally suck for eikaiwa teachers, as does the pay, so getting into lessons can be a challenge.
The people I know who are really, really good at Japanese typically had a period of their lives where they had the opportunity and time to focus. Exchange students, students who attended college (or a language school F/T) in Japan, singles who had absolutely no one to speak English with during the early internet days as some JET in Aomori, or someone who majored in Japanese in college outside of Japan.
Otherwise, you get people like me who cobbled together books, personal time, some lessons after work, maybe a gf and got to an intermediate level that’s comfortable but not ideal.
I’m pretty adamant that you should make an effort to learn the national language of the country you reside in.
I’m not arguing you have to be fluent. However, showing an effort to learn the language, is a reflection of your desire to assimilate/learn about the system you operate in. Especially if you are a long term resident.
As foreigners in Japan, this isn’t your home country, and it is a respectable move to adapt to what’s normal here, as apposes to making the system here adapt to you.
I would expect the same of Japanese residing in my country.
Nothing disgusts me more than a (usually fat) ALT who has been in Japan 15+ years and still is not able to speak/read the language decently.
Although, this may not be a well accepted opinion, I stand by it.
If it’s any consolation, I speak Japanese and am still constantly asked why I’m here. I think all foreigners are.
Explain why? It depends on you. Maybe because you plan to go back soon. Maybe too difficult for you and you’re too busy.
My advice for anyone planning long term stay is to study primary level Japanese including kanji at least 1000 reading. Writing just your address and name is fine. Your life quality will improve and you’ll depend on yourself. Some services work better when you switch to Japanese interface.
“There are deaf and mute people in Japan as well. Are you learning sign language so you can ask such a ridiculous question of them, too?”
Shame never motivates. It can do a great deal to demotivate, but it never, ever helps someone. The question OP faces only uses language ability as an excuse to be xenophobic.
I think it’s important, when possible, to learn as much of the language as you can. But it’s unfair to assume that everyone has the same opportunities, tools, training, support, resources, mental acuity, focus and time to learn a particular level at a particular speed. If the person posing the question really cared about someone’s language ability, they’d be asking what they can do to help that person improve.
I think its a good question depending on length of time you are here + level of Japanese. Some people say its wrong to expect people living in a country to be able to communicate with people is weird. It causes such a hassle and stress on so many random people. (Generally workers at various places. Giving commands or explaining something)
If you have been here for a few years you should speak the language to a decent level. writing you should but generally way higher effort/ not as important.
As for an answer if your forced here because your company moved you then that’s a great reason / I live here but don’t care about the country + people at all. / I’m too lazy to put any effort into being able to communicate with people.
I know *married couples* in Japan who cannot speak one another’s language fluently….and they have kids. Bizarre. Their “conversations” are just things like : “Oh, cold today, isn’t it?” or “What shall we eat for dinner?” etc..
I wouldn’t over-contemplate with the considerations of others if they do not produce good energy in my life – do as you feel.
Some people cannot speak fluently due to the simple fact they are still learning.
In my experience learning the basic (N4ish) amount of Japanese in under one year living here has made life more enjoyable – but everyone’s experience of what is enjoyable is not the same.
Do what you feel, it is your adventure, and your responsibility to live it the best way you feel.
I feel like the question is not why are you here, it’s why haven’t you learned
I’m not living here to speak Japanese. I’m living here for work.
Why not be here?
A person that asks that question sounds like the sort of bigot that say “speak English” or “go back to your own country”, or better yet “speak English!” when they are in country that does not speak English (thinking classic American / English tourist).
There are lots of reasons to be somewhere. I figure if you pay your taxes, and don’t cause trouble, do your own thing.
In today’s age with google sensei and other apps lot of people seem content with not being able to speak the local language. I can’t count the amount of dudes I’ve met who’ve met married a woman then proceed to have a child and not be able to speak a lick of Japanese.
Whether you can speak Japanese or not, people will ask why you came here.
22 comments
I’m a shut in and my ex never had the patience to speak to me in Japanese.
I was ignorant and happy in a bubble where I assumed we would be together forever.
I think that it’s fine to live in a country and not speak the language, a lot of people do it.
They may have moved for work or other reasons and not necessarily interested in the language or culture as such.
There is only really a problem when you try to bend the country towards you; complaining about people not speaking YOUR language (or English), getting passed over for jobs that require you to speak the local language etc.
As long as you can live your life without being a burden to others, I say more power to you.
Perhaps that you don’t plan on living in Japan long term?
Otherwise, why wouldn’t you want to make life easier for yourself?
I speak Japanese well enough to get by, and I used to aspire to becoming fluent. However, I speak mostly English at work, my wife is fluent (even though she speaks to me in Japanese more and more as time goes on), and various other circumstances have just killed my motivation to improve.
Actually, I’ve lived in Japan for many years, and have raised non-(/native Japanese speaker kids here), but I myself don’t speak Japanese to any level of fluency – basic if that. I started with Numbers – that’s the easy thing – oddly similar to roman numerals, and when shopping you need to know what you’re needing to pay. The rest just followed like basic stuff for directing a Taxi, etc. Enough to get by with, especially, when you have a Partner who does the “Heavy Lifting” in Japanese for you… but when they go… that becomes the Ultimate problem.
I wonder – has anyone else encountered that issue before, and how have they handled it ?
I tell people I do speak Japanese and that they shouldn’t assume I don’t due to my looks
It’s hard that’s why. I’m trying to learn but I’m here for work.
I don’t engage in a conversation with ignorant people 😌
Just say: none of your business.
A lot of corporate transferees come over because of specific skills. The person you are speaking with may have been in Japan one to 3 years and working the entire time, so it is pretty understandable.
Eikaiwa teachers spend their whole day in English. Many, many years ago when I taught at NOVA for a year, they actually preferred people who didn’t speak Japanese because they didn’t want the teachers to try to use Japanese to explain grammar points or to practice on the students. The hours generally suck for eikaiwa teachers, as does the pay, so getting into lessons can be a challenge.
The people I know who are really, really good at Japanese typically had a period of their lives where they had the opportunity and time to focus. Exchange students, students who attended college (or a language school F/T) in Japan, singles who had absolutely no one to speak English with during the early internet days as some JET in Aomori, or someone who majored in Japanese in college outside of Japan.
Otherwise, you get people like me who cobbled together books, personal time, some lessons after work, maybe a gf and got to an intermediate level that’s comfortable but not ideal.
I’m pretty adamant that you should make an effort to learn the national language of the country you reside in.
I’m not arguing you have to be fluent. However, showing an effort to learn the language, is a reflection of your desire to assimilate/learn about the system you operate in. Especially if you are a long term resident.
As foreigners in Japan, this isn’t your home country, and it is a respectable move to adapt to what’s normal here, as apposes to making the system here adapt to you.
I would expect the same of Japanese residing in my country.
Nothing disgusts me more than a (usually fat) ALT who has been in Japan 15+ years and still is not able to speak/read the language decently.
Although, this may not be a well accepted opinion, I stand by it.
If it’s any consolation, I speak Japanese and am still constantly asked why I’m here. I think all foreigners are.
Explain why? It depends on you. Maybe because you plan to go back soon. Maybe too difficult for you and you’re too busy.
My advice for anyone planning long term stay is to study primary level Japanese including kanji at least 1000 reading. Writing just your address and name is fine. Your life quality will improve and you’ll depend on yourself. Some services work better when you switch to Japanese interface.
“There are deaf and mute people in Japan as well. Are you learning sign language so you can ask such a ridiculous question of them, too?”
Shame never motivates. It can do a great deal to demotivate, but it never, ever helps someone. The question OP faces only uses language ability as an excuse to be xenophobic.
I think it’s important, when possible, to learn as much of the language as you can. But it’s unfair to assume that everyone has the same opportunities, tools, training, support, resources, mental acuity, focus and time to learn a particular level at a particular speed. If the person posing the question really cared about someone’s language ability, they’d be asking what they can do to help that person improve.
For money.
https://media.tenor.com/gDzS_fULerYAAAAM/daireb.gif
I think its a good question depending on length of time you are here + level of Japanese. Some people say its wrong to expect people living in a country to be able to communicate with people is weird. It causes such a hassle and stress on so many random people. (Generally workers at various places. Giving commands or explaining something)
If you have been here for a few years you should speak the language to a decent level. writing you should but generally way higher effort/ not as important.
As for an answer if your forced here because your company moved you then that’s a great reason / I live here but don’t care about the country + people at all. / I’m too lazy to put any effort into being able to communicate with people.
I know *married couples* in Japan who cannot speak one another’s language fluently….and they have kids. Bizarre. Their “conversations” are just things like : “Oh, cold today, isn’t it?” or “What shall we eat for dinner?” etc..
I wouldn’t over-contemplate with the considerations of others if they do not produce good energy in my life – do as you feel.
Some people cannot speak fluently due to the simple fact they are still learning.
In my experience learning the basic (N4ish) amount of Japanese in under one year living here has made life more enjoyable – but everyone’s experience of what is enjoyable is not the same.
Do what you feel, it is your adventure, and your responsibility to live it the best way you feel.
I feel like the question is not why are you here, it’s why haven’t you learned
I’m not living here to speak Japanese. I’m living here for work.
Why not be here?
A person that asks that question sounds like the sort of bigot that say “speak English” or “go back to your own country”, or better yet “speak English!” when they are in country that does not speak English (thinking classic American / English tourist).
There are lots of reasons to be somewhere. I figure if you pay your taxes, and don’t cause trouble, do your own thing.
In today’s age with google sensei and other apps lot of people seem content with not being able to speak the local language. I can’t count the amount of dudes I’ve met who’ve met married a woman then proceed to have a child and not be able to speak a lick of Japanese.
Whether you can speak Japanese or not, people will ask why you came here.