working in japan and learning japanese

[me NO english]

Hi everyone.

I'm new to FG, and looking for some legendary FG advice. I accepted a job offer in Tokyo, and will be here sometime in the new year. I am very excited about it, but the language barrier makes me apprehensive.

Here's the thing. Will I be able to learn Japanese in 9 months? The firm I am working for will provide me with two Japanese lessons a week. Do you think I can attempt the JLP 4 or 3 if I work hard at it for 6 or 7 months? I can read some Kanji (being from a Chinese background), but otherwise I have no other knowledge of Japanese other than your stock phrases like Konichiwa, Kawaii, Sumimasen etc. If it is not possible to learn Japanese properly during this time frame, I think I will just focus on getting my conversational Japanese up to scratch. What does everyone think?

Been attempting to memorize the hiragana and katakana before I head over. And it's killing me softly...

Thanks all!

[omae mona]

Yes, I think it's entirely possile to pass JLPT 4 or 3 within 6 or 7 months if you spend time studying. But let me ask: what degree of proficiency are you hoping to achieve? Are you trying to reach a level of fluency so that you can use Japanese on the job and communicate with colleagues?

[me NO english]

I don't think I'll be using any sort of specialist japanese terms at work, and I won't really be in contact with Japanese clients. At the very minimum, I want to be conversationally fluent, as in I should be able to understand 80% of everyday conversation. Thats my aim, although it would be nice to be able to read Japanese so that I can read/understand maybe 60% of a newspaper article (ie get the gist of it).

[Pachipro]

Do you think I can attempt the JLP 4 or 3 if I work hard at it for 6 or 7 months?

If you can't do that with two lessons a week while actually living there where you will be able to actually use what you learned immediately, then maybe you are not serious.]Been attempting to memorize the hiragana and katakana before I head over. And it's killing me softly... [/QUOTE]

I do suggest that you memorize the hiragana and katagana before going though. It 's not hard, can be done in less than a week and it will make it that much easier and faster for you. Good luck!

[Hanakuso]

Anything you can learn will enhance your experience here... just enjoy it and do the best you can. Different people learn at different speeds so its difficult to say whether you can achive those targets. Probably best to make a start at it, see how well you come along and then set some realistic goals after you have a better idea of your language capability.

[Iraira]

Anything you can learn will enhance your experience here... just enjoy it and do the best you can. Different people learn at different speeds so its difficult to say whether you can achive those targets. Probably best to make a start at it, see how well you come along and then set some realistic goals after you have a better idea of your language capability.

Plus you're young, so you'll soak up the language faster than a geezer would. Also it's a good idea, when you get here to find some girlfriend who can't speak any English at all....I mean one who can't even read romanji would be the best....probably best to start looking in the extreme countryside for one of those. And don't sweat the countryside: Japanese rednecks tend not to drive around sportin' the Confederate flag and reeking of a long line of incest.
If she speaks solid English, then you'll tend to communicate in English...which was my mistake (among many other mistakes) the first two years here.

[QwertyJPC]

since you're Chinese, I think you will have half of the battle cut out for you. How many Chinese characters do you know? Once you have kana down, all you really have to do is memorize the kun readings of most of the Kanji, some new vocabulary words and some grammar too.

All of the really good students in my Japanese 1B class were Chinese. From Taiwan. Meaning they knew traditional and simplified Mandarin Chinese characters and spoken Mandarin.

[me NO english]

Thanks all for your replies. I think Hanasuko's point about different people learning at different speeds is absolutely right. I have difficulty remembering characters (absolutely hated learning my Chinese when I was back in school). The only way to do this is to fully immerse myself in Japanese culture, hence Iraira's point about getting a Japanese girlfriend who can't speak English. LOL. I will definitely be on the lookout!

I've studied Chinese since I was young. Although I am not as good as a native speaker, I do know a reasonable amount of kanji. I did the HSK (which is equivalent to the JLPT), and my Chinese level was just below that needed to study in a Chinese University.

I will definitely be working hard at it. Hopefully so I impress my employers enough to keep me on, or so that I may return to Japan at a later stage.

[kurohinge1]

This looks interesting . . .

[SIZE="4"]JOI - Japanese Online Institute[/SIZE]

Take Japanese language lessons right from your home or office computer, in real time with native Japanese language teachers . . .

And, no, I don't have anything to do with the company.

[Greji]

Plus you're young, so you'll soak up the language faster than a geezer would.

We geezers resent that statement! Right Taro?

I do second the motion on the sleeping dictionary!

[TFG]

No chance of becoming fluent in Japanese in the amount of time you are talking about. You might at best be able to understand 30-40% of actually daily Japanese but don't expect to be able to discuss politics, philosophy or anything of a technical nature.

[kamome]

We geezers resent that statement! Right Taro?

You guys qualify as honorary yung'uns on this board!

[Taro Toporific]

We geezers resent that statement! Right Taro?

You guys qualify as honorary yung'uns on this board!

Who's a "geezer"? I just turned 55 a few days ago so I've changed my resume to start at my final college degree to shave off 15 years years, hee, hee.

[Mike Oxlong]

No chance of becoming fluent in Japanese in the amount of time you are talking about. You might at best be able to understand 30-40% of actually daily Japanese but don't expect to be able to discuss politics, philosophy or anything of a technical nature.

Yeah, but that's pretty good for a year or less of study. Assuming self-study in his free time and continuing study when he finishes his job/leaves the country, he'll be better at 2,3,4 years and so on. He seems to have a good attitude - encourage the lad!

[Greji]

Who's a "geezer"? I just turned 55 a few days ago...

You're right! I didn't realize you were still a kid! I got bar tabs in Kabukicho older than that!