Should I learn Japanese?
I'm currently learning Hiragana right now, and so far, things seem easy. I hear that Kanji is a bitch, but I'll get to it when I get to it.
I'm just wondering if it'll serve me actually use aside from reading untranslated manga/games. Could I become an English teacher and live in Japan? How long does it usually take to become proficient with the language? Any other uses?
Should I learn Japanese?
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>Should I learn Japanese?
If you want to. I find the process rewarding and that's enough for me.
>I'm just wondering if it'll serve me actually use aside from reading untranslated manga/games.
It is admittedly not very useful for everyday life. Games were the primary motivation for me to start learning. They're also a fantastic studying tool.
>Could I become an English teacher and live in Japan?
You don't even need to know Japanese to teach English in Japan, but it probably helps.
>How long does it usually take to become proficient with the language?
It's a pretty big undertaking. I've studied on my own for about 4 years and I'm just starting to feel confident in actually speaking and writing. Also, you really need to use it just about every day even if it's just reading a VN for half an hour or doing Anki reps.
>Any other uses?
I make friends with people online and Japanese students doing exchange programs.
By any chance do you have links to websites/resources you've used to better your understanding of the Japanese language? I only know the vowels for hiragana so far.
How long would it take to learn Japanese enough if I just want to read manga and Japanese games?
Try the links in this OP
It really depends how much effort you put in. I started reading manga like 6 months after grinding flash cards and grammar. Even then I had to use a dictionary all the time, but it's good for practice. For complete understanding without relying on any help it'll take years.
As someone else said you don't need to know any Japanese to be a teacher in Japan. I've been living in Japan and teaching English for the past 4 years now and I wouldn't recommend it at all.
Why wouldn't you recommend it user? Seems like an okay job to have.
Not him but teaching English in Japan is a crapshoot or a coin toss.
I think a lot of it comes from people's expectations, whatever they might be doesn't matter if you're a anime otaku or something or just someone looking to get away from their old life.
One of the biggest disappointments is people finding out that they are gonna be teaching in th3 middle of nowhere in some no name town between two rice fields instead of the Tokyo or Kyoto they were expecting.
People also feel socially isolated there and they might assume it's because they're foreigners and Japanese people are racist towards them. Not true. Japanese society is introverted and loads of native Japanese feel isolated as well.
The list goes on. If you have no major expectations that will set you up for disappointment then it can be great.
Like most jobs it really depends on the company and location you work at. From what I've experienced and heard from others that have worked at those other companies, their all the same scummy trash. Ive heard this from people that work at all kinds of different places(Private, High Schools and Uni).
I'm married now(not to a Japanese person) so I'm trapped for the time being and I've never been into Japanese culture aside from video games like street fighter, but a good majority of the foreigners I met that DO have a big interest in Japanese culture grew to hate living here within months.
There is a lot of good in the country though and if you're hoping to find some Japanese gf like I've seen others post here about then you'll have an easy time. Japanese girls are super easy lol.
I'm typing this on my phone while taking a shit at work so sorry if it's worded weird, but if you have any more questions feel free to ask.
>Could I become an English teacher and live in Japan?
Just a bachelor's degree. In literally anything doesn't have to be in English or Teaching or anything you can have a degree in Jazz and it's just as good as any other.
Already having a JLPT cert will definitely help in not just getting hired but also just your daily life in Japan. Not necessary like it was said but it is a plus.
>How long does it usually take to become proficient with the language?
Depends on what you consider to be proficient and also at what level. And also obviously how well you study.
>Any other uses?
Uh no not really lol there's such a tiny population of Japanese outside of Japan it's real hard to find native speakers. If you live in a real major city you could find some Japanese cultural centers but that's about it.