A New Tactic
One of the original motivators for coming to Japan is that I thought it would be much easier to pick up the language while actually immersed in it.
So far this has not been the case. Despte living in Tokyo I'm not immersed in Japanese at all. On the contrary, I have to go out of my way to speak Japanese. This is because the places I go, namely church and school, are both filled with people fluent in English. The people I walk past on the street may not know a word of it but there's never any real reason to talk to them and in Japan you just don't walk up to someone and start talking to them for no reason.
Today I discovered all that's necessary is a reaon.
On my way home from church today, I caught the express train from Shibuya. Since the train I usually take is labeled as a limited express, I wanted to double check that I the train stopped in Jiyugaoka (where I live). I asked an older businessman in my very basic Japanese if the train was going to Jiyugaoka. In Japanese, he replied that it was. I thanked him and started to go back to my seat but then he told me again in halting English and added that it was 3 stops away. After that we chatted a bit, I told him that I was a student and that I lived in a dorm in Jiyugaoka etc. It was really neat, I spoke to him in Japanese, he spoke back in English. Neither of us could speak the others language very well but it was great practise for both of us.
Out of this experience, I've decided to ask for directions all the time. I don't really need them as I already know how to use the train maps and most of the signs are in English. However, asking for directions will be a great excuse to talk to people and practise my Japanese. I'm a little bit excited to try it.
So far this has not been the case. Despte living in Tokyo I'm not immersed in Japanese at all. On the contrary, I have to go out of my way to speak Japanese. This is because the places I go, namely church and school, are both filled with people fluent in English. The people I walk past on the street may not know a word of it but there's never any real reason to talk to them and in Japan you just don't walk up to someone and start talking to them for no reason.
Today I discovered all that's necessary is a reaon.
On my way home from church today, I caught the express train from Shibuya. Since the train I usually take is labeled as a limited express, I wanted to double check that I the train stopped in Jiyugaoka (where I live). I asked an older businessman in my very basic Japanese if the train was going to Jiyugaoka. In Japanese, he replied that it was. I thanked him and started to go back to my seat but then he told me again in halting English and added that it was 3 stops away. After that we chatted a bit, I told him that I was a student and that I lived in a dorm in Jiyugaoka etc. It was really neat, I spoke to him in Japanese, he spoke back in English. Neither of us could speak the others language very well but it was great practise for both of us.
Out of this experience, I've decided to ask for directions all the time. I don't really need them as I already know how to use the train maps and most of the signs are in English. However, asking for directions will be a great excuse to talk to people and practise my Japanese. I'm a little bit excited to try it.
5 Comments:
nice idea!
very cool!!!
Did you shake your head a lot while talking to the businessman? That was the thing I never got used to and did not know when to stop. Let us know once you figured it out.
Oh Wise One, you have made a great discovery. It will also stand you well when you return to the States. Your future wife will be impressed that you know to ask directions. ;)
As I was reading your post before the end, I was trying to figure a way to not look totally crazy stopping someone on the street so that you could speak. Your plan is great!
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