/jp/ - Otaku Culture

>>8349932
>Does anyone have experiences with the english skills of japanese high school/college students?
They don't speak English. They also won't understand you. They might understand if you write it out for them.

german /jp/ homolord of the 9th glory hole order here
Ask /trv/

The germanman only knows english?

Before I started learning Japanese, I went on a high school trip to Japan as part of the International Baccalaureate program (if you're underage, leave, but if and thinking of getting involved, it's not worth it).

Most Japanese do not speak English. Most schools don't have an English language program, and if they do, it's either forced at a very top-class school, or a poorly-taught elective. The students I visited had an English language program, and they got up to around what I would describe as grade 8 grammar using grade 3 vocabulary.

Japanese people are scared to death of foreigners, and scared to death even more of making mistakes. If you're white and don't look like you've done meth the past 10 years of your life, they will assume you are not Russian and therefore know how to speak English, and if goaded, will probably rather say they don't know any English at all than risk making mistakes in front of someone with a lifelong experience in the language.

>germanfag
>fag

What's wrong with speaking Japanese?

Perfectly possible to survive in Tokyo without knowing Japanese. You just wouldnt be speaking to any Japanese since they dont know how to speak English.

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>>8349995
^ Everything here is flat out wrong.

English is a required subject in all Japanese schools, from elementary through high school. Most Japanese people know at least a little bit of English, and Tokyo in particular is so chock-full of foreigners that finding someone who speaks English well enough to help you with anything is no problem. Hell, you may even find people who speak German.

I got by just fine. Most people knew a little bit of English and were very helpful, especially the cops. Just don't expect to be able to hold conversations with the average japanese in english. That was my experience atleast.

Japanese people know some basic words and phrases and generally have poor pronunciation. But you could 'get by' fine considering buying food and getting around requires little interaction. But if you're gonna be in Japan for a while, at least try and learn the basic phrases...

You don't actually have to ever speak in Japan. I've had a really bad cold for the past few days and couldn't speak but it wasn't a problem at all.
This is assuming you know what you're doing and not trying to swipe a credit card in the ticket booth or something.

You can manage just well with daily necessities not having to speak to anyone, ever.

>>8350043
You can't fault me for trying to discouraging OP. This is /jp/ after all.

>>8350068
That mentality is what makes /jp/ shit...

They can hardly speak it. I remember trying to talk to a few. They could force out things like "Hello" and "I am _name_" and that kind of thing, but their English is probably as good as my French or Greek or Latin are at this point.

I've been living in Nagoya since March. I'm almost annoyed at how well people can understand me. Take a dictionary/phrasebook and use single words when possible. Lots of pointing and body language. Some people will get very nervous around you, because they are afraid of making mistakes and being unable to help you. Some people will walk right up to you and start practicing their English. Try saying things with a Japanese accent instead of British or American or whatever. In a big city, most signs will be in English as well as Japanese. Maps and local information pamphlets available in subway stations will be multilingual. You should be familiar with at least rudimentary Japanese, though.

For dictionary, I use the free iphone/ipod touch app, Kotoba. I suspect a dry-erase board would be handy as shit.

Good luck.

<--random park in Kyoto.

>>8350095
Why the fuck are you learning Latin? Are you a lawyer or something?

>>8350114
I tried learning it for fun back in high school, just to pass the time in classes. I learned it alright and would try writing in it, but I got bored of that eventually and went on to mostly forget it. A lawyer? I couldn't be anything further from one.

>>8350119
This is basically what I did, except with Japanese. For me, I feel this is more helpful than other languages.