I find many Japanese people frustrating. Not for any real reason ... my beef is all about their inability to communicate, to simplify their spoken Japanese so that I can understand it. Here is a guide:
1) Speak slowly
2) Use simple words
3) Use short sentences
That's it. It ain't rocket science. But the average conversation goes like this (translated into english)
"Hey man, did you get up to much today?"
What? Could you speak more slowly please?
"Sorry, ah, did you get up to much today?"
Get ... up ... I got up at 10AM.
"No, I mean, did you do this or that today?"
You're speaking fast again. Please speak slowly, and use simple words. Imagine I am three years old.
"Ok, ah, what activities did you do today?"
Acutibity ....
ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS SAY THIS:
What did you do today?
It's not hard. But almost nobody knows how to do it, because they've never had to do it before. The reason I get so frustrated, is because I can, and have, had english conversations about the internal components of nuclear power stations with students whose english vocabulary was about 150 words. I can communicate any meaning using about four words and gestures, and I can understand almost any broken gibberish sentence thrown at me. For example (and these are all taken from reality):
"Yesterday, I sleep the car."
This means the student slept in his car yesterday.
"I eat the restaurant and very bad toilet."
The student got food poisoning.
"I fired the bird."
This means the student cooked a chicken dinner. They have a gas stove, and the cooking referred to was probably frying.
"I used the stove."
The student used a heater because it was cold in their apartment.
If I can do it, why can't they? Oh right, 'cause they're not professional teachers. I realize most Australian's can't do this either, but speaking to a foreigner is a two-way street. They're trying their best to understand you, you have to try your best to make yourself understood.
The reason why it really frustrates me is this. Because my level of english communication is off the scale, and most Japanese people lack the ability to communicate effectively in Japanese with learners like me, I end up speaking English to people all the time. Even with people whose English is clearly worse than my Japanese. Just so we can understand each other. Then because they understand, they think their english is much better than my Japanese. STFU, buddy.
And I didn't even mention the people that say an easily understandable sentence to me in Japanese, but too fast, and when I ask them to repeat it they resort to their completely unintelligible english. I mean unintelligible. Compared, "I fired the bird" is a model of english proficiency.
Even worse are the people that know their english is shitter than my shitty Japanese, but still talk to me in english in social situations because they want to practice. I'm an English teacher - you wanna waste my time, get out your wallet. I never talk in Japanese to people whose english is better than my Japanese. Communication is what's important, not which language it's in.
6 comments:
It might help if you stopped talking to drunk people in loud bars, no? Try the library.
Maybe you could try the Japanese phrase "Speak slowly because my Japanese is even worse than your English! Ha ha ha!" then when they continue in shithouse English, reiterate: "Holy shit! Your English is TERRIBLE!"
Schlepped on over here from Franzy's. I have a hearing problem so every time I don't understand someone I apologise for my hearing and they go away because obviously I'm not good conversation material.
P.S. Plus, I'm the "I'll laugh and smile because I'm nervous and have nothing else to say" type.
I feel your pain.
On a daily basis I have to communicate with Indians, Malays, Chinese, Singaporeas and Europeans of varying English ability.
Indians are easy, as English is their FIRST language.
Most of the cultures that have ESL are easy too, you just slow down (Especially as an Aussie) and simplify your adjectives.
Singaporeans on the other hand will speak three languages mixed together and wonder why you can't understand them! NO; slowing down doesn't help if the words you are using are not english! - how about actually translating what you are saying into REAL english? ...Thanks.
Also, when speaking perfect english to some people, the comprehension is completely lost. For example, I can say my address (West Coast) to a taxi driver 5 times with no success. BUT as soon as I say "Wess Coase" I spark some recognition. This is irritating and hilarious at the same time...
Perhaps that is what makes living in Asia so much fun?
Language barrier is always a problem when it comes to communicating and the best way to deal with this is to have patience. I used to have essay writing activities with the Koreans as an ESL teacher and at first, I had a hard time teaching since there are grammar rules to follow and not just plain English teaching. But soon, I've managed to teach them well.
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