Japanese Classes are full of Anime Dorks

[Charles]

[dingosatemybaby]

At least she did some empirical work. Dingo got his MA by writing some present value curves and a couple of differential equations.

[Charles]

At least she did some empirical work. Dingo got his MA by writing some present value curves and a couple of differential equations.

Yeah, "empirical work" hanging out in anime clubs chatting with anime dorks.

At my alma mater, if you want to do a MA thesis with surveys, you have to take 2 semesters of statistics, which I always thought was a harsh requirement, but it seemed to be effective in producing rigorous theses even in "soft sciences" like sociology that traditionally produce vague results.
This thesis lists all the survey questions but doesn't list any of the results, let alone statistical analysis of the results. As such, it is a bunch of guesswork. It would not have passed at my university.

[Taro Toporific]

... Dingo got his MA by writing some present value curves and a couple of differential equations.

After hanging out in Dingo's carrion cave last weekend, I know for fact that Dingo's MA was in ass value curves and differential vector equations of butt wiggle.

[Taro Toporific]

Anime and Learning Japanese Culture
...Manion suggests that "there is a good deal of overlap" between young people studying Japanese and those involved with the anime fan community.".

Where is the CDC when you need them? Elimation the source of the disease is always best way to control a growing plague.



------
TOTALLY OFF-TOPIC...
Props to Charles for being in the main part of the story in The Register (Monday 20th June 2005 21:44 GMT):
Taking Osborne out of the Osborne Effect---It's a myth

[Mulboyne]

And Japanese Anime Classes are full of foreigners:

Yomiuri: Japan emerges as pop culture classroom
The number of foreign exchange students--particularly from other Asian countries--studying at vocational colleges in Japan is rising. Popular courses include animation, video game design and fashion, all of which are considered high-profile careers these days...Lee Byong Ok...came to Japan after studying economics in South Korea in 2002, and is currently a sophomore in the game software course at Japan Electronics College. The college began accepting foreign students in 1977, and now has students from 40 countries--60 percent of whom are South Korean.
...Zhang Luan, 25, from China, is training to become a make-up artist at the Tokyo Designer Gakuin. "Chinese girls are surprised to see how pretty Japanese girls look in [fashion magazines] 'JJ' and 'CanCam,'" Zhang said. "Shiseido is a well-known brand in China," she said in explaining her reasons for studying in Japan. "Courses on make-up, animation and interior design are popular with exchange students," said Yusuke Yamada, the school's spokesman.
...According to Akihiko Hayashi of Trajal Hospitality and Tourism College, many young Asians looking to start a career in the hotel industry are coming to study in Japan to learn about Japanese-style hospitality. A second-year student from Taiwan, 20-year-old Huang Lanyi is on the college's hotel course and wants to become a hotel manager. "If you've studied and worked in Japan, it's easier to find a job in Taiwan--where jobs are scarce," she said. "Only a few women are working in the hotel industry, but I hope to become one," Huang said.
..."Since [exchange students] have more trouble financing their education in Japan than Japanese students, their attitude is more serious. Exchange students bring a positive learning environment to our classes," Hayashi said. The number of Asian exchange students surged in the early 1990s, but many received inadequate support. As a result, foreign students have to pass the Japanese-language proficiency test to be admitted to vocational schools. "As a consequence of this condition, the standard of exchange students at vocational colleges has risen," says Akinori Ariga, deputy secretary general of Metropolitan Tokyo Professional Institution Association.

[aljones15]

yeah it's funny how much the koreans hate Japan but love to go to their Universities. Anyway, the researcher in question has done several studies of Anime fandom outside of the U.S. I might add that Ms. Ito her professor wrote a book on Japanese cell phone culture.

peace,
A

[Charles]

------
TOTALLY OFF-TOPIC...
Props to Charles for being in the main part of the story in The Register (Monday 20th June 2005 21:44 GMT):
Taking Osborne out of the Osborne Effect---It's a myth

ha.. that is one of the perils of being pals with a prominent journalist, you send an email with a few off-the-cuff remarks about one of his stories, and suddenly you're front page news.

[puargs]

Some current statistics of my own surveys from Charles' alma mater-

Number of Japanese sections 1st year, 1st semester: 5
Number of Japanese sections 1st year, 2nd semester: 2 or 3
Number of Japanese sections 2nd year, 1st semester: 2
Number of Japanese sections 2nd year, 2nd semester: 2
Number of Japanese sections 3rd year, 1st semester: 2
Number of Japanese sections 3rd year, 2nd semester: 2 or 1
Number of Japanese sections 4th year, 1st semester: 1
Number of Japanese sections 4th year, 2nd semester: 1 or 0 (by demand)
Number of Japanese linguistics students per year: about 8-12

Now then. Three full years (plus a linguistics course) are required for a major, and two full years are required for a minor. When I started this route, people dropped like flies the first semester. Seems Japan isn't as super-happy-fun-land as they thought.

The teachers did do a brief survey on the reason for interest in Japanese language, as I recall. Around 50% of the class were those anime nerds. I'd say about 50% of my class dropped first semester, and of those, about 90% were the anime nerds. By third year, I'd say all of them save maybe one or two were gone.

It's up to the person to decide what motivates them to learn a subject, but trying to major in something you're only curious about at a university notorious for weeding out students in that subject is a pretty bad idea. I applaud those weirdos that made it, but I also do not envy their serious lack of social ability.

I suddenly realize the irony of my avatar. Too bad. I love Naruto in the same way I love Ninja Turtles, and no one will ever take that away from me.

[jingai]

From a link above:

A recent article for the Wall Street Journal addressed the trend, saying that in the past nine years, the majority of Japanese language students at the University of Georgia are no longer international business majors, but rather Japanese culture fanatics.

Well, which is better- people who don't care about Japan but want to get rich, or people who are obsessed with pop Japanese culture? What a choice.

[Charles]

Some current statistics of my own surveys from Charles' alma mater-

Number of Japanese sections 1st year, 1st semester: 5
Number of Japanese sections 1st year, 2nd semester: 2 or 3
Number of Japanese sections 2nd year, 1st semester: 2
Number of Japanese sections 2nd year, 2nd semester: 2
Number of Japanese sections 3rd year, 1st semester: 2
Number of Japanese sections 3rd year, 2nd semester: 2 or 1
Number of Japanese sections 4th year, 1st semester: 1
Number of Japanese sections 4th year, 2nd semester: 1 or 0 (by demand)
Number of Japanese linguistics students per year: about 8-12

Now then. Three full years (plus a linguistics course) are required for a major, and two full years are required for a minor. When I started this route, people dropped like flies the first semester. Seems Japan isn't as super-happy-fun-land as they thought.

The teachers did do a brief survey on the reason for interest in Japanese language, as I recall. Around 50% of the class were those anime nerds. I'd say about 50% of my class dropped first semester, and of those, about 90% were the anime nerds. By third year, I'd say all of them save maybe one or two were gone.

I'm curious about a few things, I haven't been keeping too close a track on the department since Fraulein Erziehungsminister took over as dean. I used to be a regular fixture at conversation hours even 5+ years after I graduated, I figured I should help the struggling students who came after me. But I got pretty disgusted with the whole scene when it became infested with anime dorks trying to get me to translate their manga, and even the nihonjin exchange students stopped coming because they were disgusted with the continual anime assault, there wasn't much point in going anymore because there were no native speakers to talk with. But I might just go to conversation hour and check out how they're doing, are they still holding it in the same place on Wednesday evenings?
I think the 1st semester dropout rate is hilarious, because that's the EASY part. But anyway.. what happened to 5th year classes? Do they even have them anymore? Do they still have the compressed brushup first year course for kids who took Japanese in high school? But more to the point, of those anime dorks who stuck it out to 3rd year, how do they rate compared to the other students? And are the upper classes still mostly filled with Chinese and Koreans?
I still remember what one of my study partners told me when we graduated, he said the U had a reputation as one of the top programs in the US, but he didn't care about that, he cared about its reputation years later when he would be submitting his resume with his degree at the top. And that is what I object to most about the anime dorks, because of them, my degree in Japanese Language is now interpreted as a degree in anime dorkdom.

[kamome]

I'm curious about a few things, I haven't been keeping too close a track on the department since Fraulein Erziehungsminister took over as dean. I used to be a regular fixture at conversation hours even 5+ years after I graduated, I figured I should help the struggling students who came after me. But I got pretty disgusted with the whole scene when it became infested with anime dorks trying to get me to translate their manga, and even the nihonjin exchange students stopped coming because they were disgusted with the continual anime assault, there wasn't much point in going anymore because there were no native speakers to talk with. But I might just go to conversation hour and check out how they're doing, are they still holding it in the same place on Wednesday evenings?
I think the 1st semester dropout rate is hilarious, because that's the EASY part. But anyway.. what happened to 5th year classes? Do they even have them anymore? Do they still have the compressed brushup first year course for kids who took Japanese in high school? But more to the point, of those anime dorks who stuck it out to 3rd year, how do they rate compared to the other students? And are the upper classes still mostly filled with Chinese and Koreans?
I still remember what one of my study partners told me when we graduated, he said the U had a reputation as one of the top programs in the US, but he didn't care about that, he cared about its reputation years later when he would be submitting his resume with his degree at the top. And that is what I object to most about the anime dorks, because of them, my degree in Japanese Language is now interpreted as a degree in anime dorkdom.

Which university is this?

[dingosatemybaby]

I'm curious about a few things, I haven't been keeping too close a track on the department since Fraulein Erziehungsminister took over as dean. I used to be a regular fixture at conversation hours even 5+ years after I graduated, I figured I should help the struggling students who came after me. But I got pretty disgusted with the whole scene when it became infested with anime dorks trying to get me to translate their manga, and even the nihonjin exchange students stopped coming because they were disgusted with the continual anime assault, there wasn't much point in going anymore because there were no native speakers to talk with. But I might just go to conversation hour and check out how they're doing, are they still holding it in the same place on Wednesday evenings?
I think the 1st semester dropout rate is hilarious, because that's the EASY part. But anyway.. what happened to 5th year classes? Do they even have them anymore? Do they still have the compressed brushup first year course for kids who took Japanese in high school? But more to the point, of those anime dorks who stuck it out to 3rd year, how do they rate compared to the other students? And are the upper classes still mostly filled with Chinese and Koreans?
I still remember what one of my study partners told me when we graduated, he said the U had a reputation as one of the top programs in the US, but he didn't care about that, he cared about its reputation years later when he would be submitting his resume with his degree at the top. And that is what I object to most about the anime dorks, because of them, my degree in Japanese Language is now interpreted as a degree in anime dorkdom.

Which university is this?

"Fraulein Erziehungsminister"? Sounds like Martin Bormann Polytechnische

[Charles]

"Fraulein Erziehungsminister"? Sounds like Martin Bormann Polytechnische

Yep, that's about how she runs the place. She sets the tone and the tone is that you are not worthy of a place in her department.

Anyway, puargs will be amused to hear that I went to conversation hour tonight, and I was pleasantly surprised. There were no otaku and plenty of nihonjin, which is a complete change from the last time I attended about 5 years ago. Nobody seemed to know why they were at this meeting, so I told everyone to bring their textbooks next time and they could help each other with their language studies. Surprisingly, everyone liked this idea.

[Kanchou]

I started watching anime 5-6 years ago (Dragonball Z!), learning Japanese 3 years ago (Never stepped into a classroom until a year ago), and now I'm more or less fluent (at least to the point at which Japanese chicks say I am )...

So... eh.

I've never been in a Japanese classroom in the US, but I have heard that it's 90% Asian kids or white Anime nerds (who always give up after a semester).

Then again, my REAL inspiration to learn Japanese wasn't anime... it was women! Sort of. Oh wait, that's even worse.

[IkemenTommy]

So sad..
I once took some advanced J classes in college and some people were in it just so they can first-handedly translate their favorite Ranma 1/2 and Sailor Moon animes. They were big time hentai anime otakus.

At least I studied Japanese for the chicks

[cenic]

Kanchou, once you are beyond a very rudimentary level they will no longer feel compelled to compliment you on how skilled you are. Just like how you don't compliment 3rd generation Asian Americans on how good their english is.


Despite's everyone advice on this board, my major at the University of Washington is Japan Studies, and not computer science. I am a third year student regretting that I took Japanese. The whole Japanese language and International Studies: Japan Studies are at capacity. We are all studying a country that has a dormant economy and doesn't really need a large influx foreigners. However, I trudge on in my degree program wishing I would have studied Korean or Chinese. I still enjoy learning about Japan and the Japanese language, but I'm now concerned about how well this degree will help me in the future.

There are currently 4 sections of first year Japanese Language all overloaded with 50+ students. That is a lot of people, and I've got to really wonder why there are so many people taking Japanese and what they plan on doing.

[Charles]

...Despite's everyone advice on this board, my major at the University of Washington is Japan Studies, and not computer science. I am a third year student regretting that I took Japanese. The whole Japanese language and International Studies: Japan Studies are at capacity. We are all studying a country that has a dormant economy and doesn't really need a large influx foreigners. However, I trudge on in my degree program wishing I would have studied Korean or Chinese. I still enjoy learning about Japan and the Japanese language, but I'm now concerned about how well this degree will help me in the future...

Perhaps you have a misapprehension of the purpose of your school's undergrad degree. It is not intended to provide you with practical Japan-related skills, it is intended as merely the first step towards your PhD and your eventual career in academia. UWash J Studies in particular is part of the academia mill.
I wasn't aware of this whole scheme until I inquired about doing an MA in J Studies. I was told I was too old (42), no school would accept me because to get an MA I'd have to be on the PhD track, which would take 10 years, and then I'd be 52, and then it takes maybe another 10 years to get tenure, at which point I'd be almost at retirement age, so the schools wouldn't consider me as a worthwhile investment, they wouldn't get enough years back out of me for all the years they put into me. Sheesh.
But look at the bright side. You're learning Japanese, and the UWash language program has a good reputation. But do yourself a favor and try to get in a year's exchange program before you graduate. You could go to Waseda, Keio, Osaka, etc. and you'd be a fool not to do it. They really expect you to do an exchange program, you better get busy planning it. You will never ever again in your life have an opportunity to live in Japan as cheaply and as well-subsidized as with an exchange program. You should be able to make enough contacts in Japan during an exchange program to set up a launching point for living and working in Japan, if you choose to do that in the future. That's what all my buddies did. Hmm.. wonder why I didn't do it...?

[Greji]

Perhaps you have a misapprehension of the purpose of your school's undergrad degree. It is not intended to provide you with practical Japan-related skills, it is intended as merely the first step towards your PhD and your eventual career in academia. UWash J Studies in particular is part of the academia mill.

You have also neglected to point out the most important skill that this undergrad degree will provide. That of providing the incumbent with the ability to be able to pick off J-chicks like wooden ducks at a circus shooting gallery upon arrival in Yamato. That alone makes it worth pursuing, when faced with such alternate curiculum choices as basket weaving or pud lapping 101.

[Mulboyne]

Looks like these anime fans will be populating Japanese classes for years.



[quote="The Mobile Suit Gundam Site]The Zakrello is a failed mobile armor prototype, whose speed and maneuverability were deemed inadequate for combat purposes. The gaping mouth of this peculiar-looking machine contains a powerful scattering mega particle cannon and it's also armed with eight missile launchers and a pair of sickle-shaped claws. After the destruction of the Bigro, one of Char's underlings takes off in the Zakrello in an attempt for revenge.

[ichigo partygirl]

Im my japanese programme in NZ the only anime freaks are the Koreans and Chinese, not Kiwis. The drop out rate is massive. 1st year there was 80 then 2nd year 50 then this year there is about 24, and at honours level next year just myself and brett. The anime dorks that last, last because they are really committed to study - so i assume things other than anime.

In my japanese language classes in japan the number of anime lovers is much higher.

Never really got into it........just something i dont get.

On a somewhat different angle i was taking an english conversation class today and i was asking people about their hobbies. this one boy said otaku. it was very funny, he tried hard to find and english word but he couldnt.

[Taro Toporific]

... asking people about their hobbies. this one boy said otaku. it was very funny, he tried hard to find and english word but he couldnt.

Let me guess now...the word is OTAKU. :P
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otaku

[ichigo partygirl]

lol ok good point. but this boy was trying to find a way to explain otaku in english. in the end he said " I wheely wheely love-u manga ando anime"
Very funny

[cstaylor]

lol ok good point. but this boy was trying to find a way to explain otaku in english. in the end he said " I wheely wheely love-u manga ando anime"
Very funny

It's not short, but I always preferred "spacewasting mouth breather".

[ichigo partygirl]

lol ok good point. but this boy was trying to find a way to explain otaku in english. in the end he said " I wheely wheely love-u manga ando anime"
Very funny

It's not short, but I always preferred "spacewasting mouth breather".

[Kanchou]

Kanchou, once you are beyond a very rudimentary level they will no longer feel compelled to compliment you on how skilled you are. Just like how you don't compliment 3rd generation Asian Americans on how good their english is.

True enough, but I don't think they were so much complementing me as they were amuzed within themselves at how good I was at Japanese... So not so much of a "wow, you're so fluent!" as it is a "wow, he's really fluent, isn't it?"

And I have a hard time beleiving that a foreigner who speaks native-level Japanese wouldn't be complimented, or at least have the Japanese person not make note of it to themselves... If someone speaks native English, and appears foreign, you just assume they're a native speaker, or a long-time resident... I think the opposite of this is true with Japanese.

On another note, my Japanese friend says I should have been born Japanese...hehe (although I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing...)

[Mulboyne]

On another note, my Japanese friend says I should have been born Japanese...hehe (although I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing...)

I think it's a bad thing if you start to think you should have been born Japanese.

[Kanchou]

I certainly wouldn't, although I still found it amuzing that he thought I should have...

[Mulboyne]

[kumakouji]