Question:
I am really interested in learning Japanese. However, I have heard
that it is an extremely difficult language to learn, especially as an
American. How true is this? Is it possible to learn conversational
Japanese without staying in Japan for an extensive amount time? I
learned Spanish to some degree by reading books and listening to
tapes. Could I do the same for Japanese? I have heard stories of
Americans living in Japan for 3+ years and still not having a firm
grasp on the language. I just want to know if it is futile to try and
learn Japanese without being fully engulfed in the language(living in
Japan.)
Answer:
It really isn't matter of how difficult Japanese is relative to other
languages. It's a matter of "wanna" versus "gotta".
If your situation is such that facility with the Japanese language is
not a real necessity, then what will matter most is your personal
drive and determination. If we tell you it's really difficult, will
that alone be enough to discourage you? If it will, then yes, Japanese
is too difficult and you really ought not bother. If you can get past
that and put in the time and effort....you'll find it isn't nearly as
impossible as some people would have you believe it is.
It can be hard to maintain enough interest if you won't be having much
contact with the language. It'll just be an academic exercise, and
prone to falling lower and lower as a priority on your list of stuff
to do in your free time. On the other hand, as you develop some skill
with it, you may also develop the urge to come over here and try your
hand at living here and using it, and open up further opportunities
for using it. At this point, it is impossible to predict.
We have all sorts of nationalities on the internet. Some of what I
am about to say applies equally well to all of them, but I will refer
just to "Americans" since that is what you mentioned.
The vast majority of Americans don't even stay here over 3 years.
Again, it comes around to "wanna" versus "gotta". Most Americans are
in positions where it isn't necessary to be functional in Japanese.
They can get by just fine in English, and never really make the effort
to learn Japanese. So don't put too much weight into their not having
a firm grasp of Japanese after 3+ years. Remember, it is very very
rare for anyone to come to Japan with the intention to stay more than
a year or two. There is a pattern you can observe when it comes to
Japanese study. I will outline it for you:
1. Just got to Japan and hot to learn Japanese
a. But I need time to settle in, then I'll start in earnest
2. Hey, it's amazing how I can get along with English and gestures
a. So there's no real need to study so hard
b. And I'm homesick so I'd rather spend my time watching
videos from home, reading English books, and hanging
with my fellow countrymen
3. Damn, half the year is gone already
a. I really need to buckle down so I can pass Level 4 of the
proficiency test this December
b. But why bother, I'm going home in 6 months and I'll never
use Japanese again.
c. But hey! That Level 4 will look great on a resume.
4. Well, I flunked the test, and only have 3 months left in Japan
a. I really should have studied harder. I feel like a lout.
b. It ain't over til it's over. I'll really buckle down now!
5. Fuck it. I'm already gathering cardboard boxes to ship stuff home.
a. If only I had studied harder, I would have enjoyed Japan
so much more.
6. I'm going to renew my contract and stay another year.
a. Now I'll really study!
b. But not right now, I have another whole year to get it done
c. And some more "X-Files" just came out on video
See the pattern here? You can always find a million excuses NOT to
study Japanese, even in Japan. (Probably *especially* in Japan).
Then you move into the "gotta" crowd for whom learning Japanese isn't
really an option. This includes people who have a greater need for it
in their professional or home life. Folks whose incomes depend in
whole or in part of some facility with the Japanese language. Folks
who have married in Japan and can see (barring divorce) a decades long
relation with the country and the people stretching in front of them.
Even among the group who have married Japanese, the most common thing
is to move back to one's home country after a few years and just use
Japanese for the occasional visit. This is more common among men
married to Japanese women. While cases of foreign women married to
Japanese men are fewer in number, I would guess that they are more
likely to end up making their permanent home in Japan. I hesitate to
make any definitive statement on that, not being possessed of
statistics.
Now, keep in mind that most people who become Gottas didn't start out
that way. They started out as Wannas and circumstances pushed them
onto the Gotta side of the ledger.
How much time and effort is it worth to you? If we say it will take
you 2 years to become proficient, will you still decide to learn
Japanese? What if we say 10? or 20? Or the rest of your life?
I personally find asking how long it will take to be a ridiculous
question. If it takes too long you just won't do it? Then you
obviously didn't need it and likely won't continue anyway. If you
really want to learn it, you'll realize it is indeed a lifelong
process and won't let that stand in your way.
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