What is your standard response to...

[uchimizu]

I would tend to agree. Even after a hard day work, you can just say no politely.

By the way, I would think this "free lesson" stuff is exagerated, or limited to specific area (Roppongi?). While in Japan (been living there for more than 3 years), nobody asked me for a free lesson (although I am white and potentially a native English speaker). None of my English speaking expat friends had the issue.

By the way, I just wrote my 5 cents on manner for a foreigner in Japan. This is much more geared towards the short-term visitor, but your feedback in hardly welcome.

http://uchimizu-en.blogspot.com/2008...-in-japan.html

[Taro Toporific]

Originally Posted by uchimizu

...By the way, I would think this "free lesson" stuff is exagerated, or limited to specific area (Roppongi?). While in Japan (been living there for more than 3 years), nobody asked me for a free lesson...

On average, once a week for 24 years for me, Y.M.M.V.
If I'm having a bad-hair-day I rant in Lithuanian to Eigo-bandits (but I've been a clean head for decades).

[Charles]

OTOH, think of all the times when you, as a newbie to the language, afflicted strangers with your horrible Japanese. And then have a little tolerance.

[Typhoon]

Originally Posted by Charles

OTOH, think of all the times when you, as a newbie to the language, afflicted strangers with your horrible Japanese. And then have a little tolerance.

Exactly.

[American Oyaji]

Originally Posted by Charles

OTOH, think of all the times when you, as a newbie to the language, afflicted strangers with your horrible Japanese. And then have a little tolerance.

I don't think that adds up Chuck.

In the one instance an FG is trying to communicate in order to survive in a country where they are learning the language.

The other instance is where Mr. Taro Tanaka tries to chat up an FG in Japan using Engrish they learned 20 years ago in high school.

The situations don't match.

[kusai Jijii]

Originally Posted by Charles

OTOH, think of all the times when you, as a newbie to the language, afflicted strangers with your horrible Japanese. And then have a little tolerance.

1) I paid for my Japanese language instruction at university.
2) As a general rule, I use English with Japanese people when it becomes clear that their English is better than my Japanese.
3) I have NEVER approached a complete stranger with the explicit intent of practicing my Japanese
4) When two people I do not know are talking in a public space, I tend to assume it not the time to interupt and ask to practice my Japanese with them.

I guess I'm just cold hearted.

[Greji]

Originally Posted by kusai Jijii

1) I paid for my Japanese language instruction at university.

I can go with that and I also hit on every female Japanese teacher and ran amuk among the female English Language students...

2) As a general rule, I use English with Japanese people when it becomes clear that their English is better than my Japanese.

You have to include that it is sometimes easier to accomplish things in business if you use English. Things as simple as making reservations at places known for long waiting lists, with a lot of times give the English speaker preferential treatment, where if you speak in Japanese, it's back to the "No openings until next week". Locating visitors for your company at a hotel is done easier in English. I always get the run-a-round if I use Japanese.

3) I have NEVER approached a complete stranger with the explicit intent of practicing my Japanese

Guilty. I have used many practice phrases with strangers i.e. "Are you alone?", "Can I buy you a drink?", or the old standby, "Would you like to come up to my place and see my goat etchings?"

4) When two people I do not know are talking in a public space, I tend to assume it not the time to interupt and ask to practice my Japanese with them.

Unless, they are women (refer to point 3)

I guess I'm just cold hearted.

YBF demands that one needs to be a little more mercenary...

[Gilligan]

Originally Posted by kusai Jijii

1) I paid for my Japanese language instruction at university.
2) As a general rule, I use English with Japanese people when it becomes clear that their English is better than my Japanese.
3) I have NEVER approached a complete stranger with the explicit intent of practicing my Japanese
4) When two people I do not know are talking in a public space, I tend to assume it not the time to interupt and ask to practice my Japanese with them.

I guess I'm just cold hearted.

That was the main point of my previous post; however, Typhoon, for whatever reason, decided to ignore it and latch on to a far more minor comment that I made.

[Midwinter]

Originally Posted by Gilligan

That was the main point of my previous post; however, Typhoon, for whatever reason, decided to ignore it and latch on to a far more minor comment that I made.

Typhoon is very selective, a shame his parents weren't. I could have recommended them a good abortion clinic.

[kurohinge1]

Originally Posted by uchimizu

. . . Even after a hard day work, you can just say no politely.

By the way, I would think this "free lesson" stuff is exagerated . . .

That sums it up for me.

Even if the frequency is as claimed (and I believe Taro-san - who no doubt is popular due to his sparkly, blue eyes), the presumption that all these people are after "a free English lesson" is just exaggeration. Maybe some Japanese think foreigners are fun to talk to, maybe some are bored, maybe some want foreigners to feel welcome in a country where foreigners often seem to be excluded. You can't assume to know their motives. But you can control how you react to them.

If they interrupted your intimate conversation with a homodachi*, then tell them that. But there's no need to shout abuse at them.

And, as the G-man's post alludes to, how many of the same drama queens who seem to be too precious to be civil, or claim to have never harassed strangers with their Japanese, have forgotten about their failed nampa attempts? Not every J-girl is happy to be accosted by a stranger (unless of course he has sparkly Taro-perfect eyes ... or a penchant for goats).



[* Sorry KJ, not suggesting your friend is socchi no hou but I thought that expression (which I heard the other day) was funny.]