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Language

By CarterWittMedia

Studying Japanese
Even if you aren't studying the language formally, you're bound to pick up a few words and phrases starting from your first week in Japan. A question facing most foreigners, however, is how much time and effort to put into the pursuit of fluency.

Without overstressing the point, even a little bit can go a long way. If you're going to be here for longer than a month, learning Japanese will help: simply put, the more you know, the easier your day-to-day life will be. At the very least, you'll be able to get around on your own and be independent. Knowing some Japanese will help you make friends, save you some money, and can be rewarding in its own right. If you are here to do business, your prospective partners will appreciate any attempt you make to learn the language. It demonstrates that you are here for the long term and are respectful of their customs and culture.

Your Language Goals
First, determine your language needs. Do you just want enough to get by, or to appreciate the finer points of classic literature (or manga comics)? If you are going to work for a Japanese company or study at a Japanese university, you will undoubtedly need more. The same applies to people with to a Japanese spouse and raising children.

Where you live will affect how much Japanese you need to know. Residents of areas heavily populated by expats will find they can handle most of their daily tasks in English. For anyone living out in a rural area, though, a basic level of spoken Japanese and comprehension ability is a necessity rather than a luxury.

Speaking, Reading, And Writing
Despite what the natives tell you, Japanese is not such a difficult language to speak. Verb tenses are fairly simple, there are no genders to worry about and pronunciation is straightforward—no tones! Gaining a grasp of conversational Japanese is possible within six months to a year of semi-serious study, but reading and writing will take longer. The same applies to the honorific language (keigo). The good news is that the two syllabaries, hiragana and katakana, are quite easy to learn. Coming to grips with them and a few Chinese characters (kanji) will help you read menus and get around. The bad news is that the entire kanji lexicon can take years to master.

The Options
Once you've answered a few questions, you can then begin to consider your options. Beyond your goals, you need to consider your learning style, financial situation and schedule before you sign up for Japanese school, arrange a language exchange or buy a textbook.

If you do decide to enroll in a school, you will need to do some homework even before you start. Good schools will have well-designed curricula, enthusiastic teachers and a diverse class mix. However, a number of institutions exist primarily to rake in the cash rather than for any noble educational purpose. Be careful of fly-by-night schools, or ones that promise a quick and easy way to master Japanese.

Typically, the teaching approach in Japanese schools can be very teacher-centered and didactic ("talk and chalk"), with lots of emphasis on grammar points and rote memorization drills. Such schools often lack a more communicative approach or the ability to personalize dialogues beyond the models used in the classroom.

The best course of action is to ask around and get recommendations from friends or colleagues. Visit the schools they recommend and request a trial lesson. You should also ask to see the materials used: textbooks, audiovisual aids, and language labs (if any). Discuss the curriculum and class goals with school staff, including the names and qualifications of teachers, the number of students per class, and the mix of students in each class. If possible, talk to other students to see how satisfied they are with the teachers and their own progress. Find out, too, what the school's refund policy is: if you are dissatisfied or feel you were promised something that was not delivered, you want to be sure you can recoup some of your money.

Beyond your actual desire to study, you will need to look seriously at your means to do so. A full-time, year-long language program can cost around ¥1 million in school fees alone. Add to that room and board, transportation, the usual living expenses and the fact that you will not be able to work much during the term, and it starts to add up. If you are employed, see if your company can partially or completely subsidize your study program. Financial aid is also available, through the school, the government or private foundations. See the Scholarship section below for more information.

Finally, assess your other obligations. How much time can you realistically commit? There is no point in spending a lot of money to enroll in classes if you never go or are too busy to complete the coursework.

Finding a School
Lists of Japanese language schools are available at:
The Japanese Language School Guide
http://www.murasakishikibu.co.jp/jls

Worldwide Classroom
http://www.worldwide.edu/ci/japan/index.html

Japanese Language School Database
http://www.aikgroup.co.jp/j-school/index.htm

Inter-University Center for Japanese Language Studies
http://www.stanford.edu/dept/IUC/

Language Exchanges
You can find a Japanese penfriend at:
http://www.japan-guide.com/penfriend/index_e.php

Study Resources
Jim Breen’s Japanese Page
An exhaustive list of links related to Japanese language, literature, computing, culture, translation, and more.
http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~jwb/japanese.html

WWWJDIC
An online dictionary and translation tool. http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~jwb/wwwjdic.html

The Japanese Page
Provides general information on learning Japanese.
http://www.thejapanesepage.com/

Nihongo Resources
Provides general information on learning Japanese.
http://www.nihongoresources.com/

Rikai
Lets you read websites in Japanese.
http://www.rikai.com/

Kanji Alive
Free kanji study software.
http://kanjialive.lib.uchicago.edu/

Japanese Tests
JLPT
Japanese Language Proficiency Test, Testing Division, Association of International Education, Poste Restante, Meguro Post Office, Tokyo 152-8799
http://www.jees.or.jp/jlpt/index.htm
JLPT application forms are available at most major bookstores (ask for the nihongo nouryoku shiken moshikomi-sho) in Japan from the beginning of July. Overseas, they can be obtained from the testing institution.

EJU
Detailed information about the EJU is available at: http://www2.jasso.go.jp/examination/efjuafis_e.html
Application forms can be obtained at most major bookstores (ask for the nihongo ryuugaku shiken moshikomi-sho) in Japan, and through the organization hosting the test in other countries.

J-Test
Application forms can be obtained at participating schools, or from the:
Association for Testing Japanese / J.Test Office, Tsujisawa Building, 1-57-8 Higashi-Nakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo 164-0003
(03) 3368-8106
http://www.jtest.org/jtest/

JETRO
Apply online at: http://www.jetro.go.jp/it/e/bj/info/apply.html, or write to:
JETRO Test Secretariat, 2-2-5 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8466
(03) 3587-1143

General Information
Japan Student Services Organization
http://www2.jasso.go.jp/index_e.html

Studying in Japan
http://www.between.ne.jp/sij

For a list of schools offering accredited Japanese-language preparatory courses for students looking to enter Japanese universities, see:
http://www.studyjapan.go.jp/en/toj/toj05e.html.

The Complete Guide to Examination for Japanese University Admission
(Includes two books: Practical Exercises for Reading Comprehension Section, and Practical Exercises for Writing Section), Mizue Sasaki/EJU Nihongo Kenkyukai; Japan Times Publications

Institute of International Education
http://www.iiepassport.org
Has a comprehensive list of study-abroad programs offered in Japan (and elsewhere).

TESOL/ESL
British Council Office in Tokyo
Phone: (03) 3235-8031
http://www.britishcouncil.org/japan
teacherseminar@britishcouncil.or.jp

Language Resources in Kobe
Phone: (078) 382-0394
http://www.nvo.com/language_resrcs/cambridgersacelta
celta@Language-Resources.co.jp

Foreign Universities with Japanese Campuses
Stanford Japan Center
52-2 Hoshoji-cho, Okazaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8333
Education Office: (075) 752-7074 / Fax (075) 752-1158
Research Office: (075) 752-7073 / Fax (075) 752-1120
http://www.stanford-jc.or.jp/index.html

Temple University Japan
2-8-12 Minami-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0047
(03) 5441-9800
http://www.tuj.ac.jp/newsite/main/index.html

McGill MBA
Building #11, Room 327, Sophia University, 7-1 Kioi-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8544
(03) 5215-1383
http://www.mcgillmbajapan.com

For a list of other institutions offering MBAs, go to:
http://www.careerdynamo.com/business_school/japan_mba_2.html

Student Accommodation
There is lots of information about dormitories and boarding houses at: http://www.gakuseikaikan.net (Japanese only)

Scholarships
There are many scholarships available, and information can be found on the web at:

Japan Student Services Organization
http://www2.jasso.go.jp/study_j/scholarships_e.html

Study in Japan
http://www.studyjapan.go.jp/en

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