Should I learn to read and write Japanese?
You should persevere and learn to understand, speak, read and write Japanese as far as possible, because otherwise it’s a massive waste of a good opportunity, and of your time here; and because otherwise you’ll become a tiresome cliche of that foreigner.
How do you meet Japanese people?
Again, to step into stereotype territory, the Japanese seem to be “planners.” That is, you often must go through lengthy e-mail and phone exchanges to settle on an exact time and place to meet your Japanese friend, and sometimes the ultimate meeting time can be months on the horizon.
What is it like to be a foreigner in Japan?
Comparatively rare, however, is the Japanese person who will treat you like just another human being. Foreigners must constantly endure having their “outside-ness” “discussed openly in conversation, and I’ve had more than one friendship crumble upon learning a Japanese “friend” had actually been keeping me around for the free English lessons.
Do the Japanese tend to mince words?
While you feel conflicted about stereotyping the Japanese right after several paragraphs of complaining about the Japanese stereotyping other people, it really does feel like the Japanese tend to mince words. It’s difficult being friends with a person who never truly tells directly how they feel or what they think.
Is it hard to learn Japanese through self-study?
The same thing applies to you, especially as you’re trying to learn Japanese through self-study. Nevertheless, those moments when you feel that learning is the hardest are usually the moments when you learn the most.
Why learn hiragana in Japanese for beginners?
Learning Japanese for beginners may seem like a huge step—and it is, but it’s a wonderful step to take! One of the fundamental topics to cover when you start to learn Japanese is learning to read hiragana. Hiragana is one of the elements of the Japanese writing system so it’s a pretty important skill to learn.
How long does it take to get good at Japanese?
It’s a little bit like putting yourself through high school and college all over again, alone, in Japanese. If I had to say how long it would take to get reasonably good at Japanese, I’d estimate a minimum of 3 to 7 years, and possibly much more, depending upon how much time you devote and how many advantages you bring to the table.