Foreigner in japan ," It is okay , I dont want to make them feel like knowing english " foreigner in India " what is that guy saying , I think he doesn't understand English , he cant speak English well " so yea ...
Haha same here, I was buying some pants at a small shop, and at that point I’d been studying Japanese (both reading and speaking) for a little over a year, and I was able to hold a very simple but nice conversation with the store owner in Japanese and she was so sweet! What might be a mundane thing for a lot of people felt like such a huge achievement for me. By my next trip, I’m hoping to be able to speak a little more “fluently” (:
@@mojewjewjew4420I only had a few months of planning prior to my first trip so I learned the bare minimum, but coming up on a second trip I’d like to go in knowing more to freshen the experience all around
Exactly! I had a coworker say that he wanted to visit Japan during a conversation about non-revving (flying non-revenue - we work for an airline and can fly free on standby on some airlines). I asked him if he spoke any Japanese since there’s another coworker who studied a bit several years ago (extremely rusty now) and I took 3 years in high school (plus self learning), and his exact words were “nope! Why should I learn their language if they don’t speak mine?” 🤦 I told him that when I visited, our student exchange group visited an elementary school, and they were learning some English (plus my entire host family minus dad spoke at least some conversational English). He just shrugged and said he doesn’t care. SMH.
@deerkota yeah exactly lol he should learn some of the language of a country especially if they don’t speak his own. because how is he gonna be able to communicate at all or do or find anything if he is in a place that don’t speak any english and he simultaneously refuse to learn any of the local language lol
As a non Japanese person, I appreciate you. I think I speak hundreds of millions of Muslims when I say we admire and respect the Japanese immensely. I find we share a lot of common values and in many ways the Japanese can be better ambassadors of our core values than a lot of Muslims today. Like how you put the good of society before yourselves, how humble and modest you are, you don't engage in rude speech, you're very respectful, you don't like to display affection in public, you're very clean and respectful of the environment, you're brave when you have to fight. How disciplined you are. Japan is a great nation and I am looking into learning Japanese so I can visit it with my family in the near future. It's at the top of my list.
@@amg863Well, I appreciate you! I’m Japanese and it’s really interesting to see people from other cultures being interested in my country! Hope you can visit soon:)
@@everythingisiconicifyoumakeit I would love that. My brother lived there for a couple of years and he said great things about it. I've started watching videos about learning Japanese because I feel like it would make my trip 100x better if I can communicate with people and venture outside of the touristic areas.
@@amg863 Yes absolutely, Japanese and Islam cultures share similarities. Very disciplined and traditional. I have so much respect for Muslims and their faith.
This idea of one day speaking Japanese to a Japanese person confidently is why I study every day. I have met some Japanese people online, but I can't wait to someday speak to them in person.
I think this guy would be welcome in any country with his humble and positive attitudes! I’ve traveled pretty widely. Not yet vintage Japan, alas, that’s so many places making the nearest effort to speak. Their language opens doors wonderfully. I hope he has a great time in Japan.
I’m not visiting until I have a solid understanding of the language. I want to go so badly but I’m challenging myself to be proficient enough in Japanese to actually experience the country in all of its beauty. Hopefully by the time I’m 22/23 I’ll be at that point. And if I’m lucky enough to stay there for extended periods of time, my grasp of the language should only get stronger.
Same, I feel like you’re really not getting the experience of you aren’t speaking the language and visiting the non “tourist” areas, since you can absorb most of the culture and landscape there. I think it doesn’t matter as much for some countries, but most people in JP don’t speak English or can’t speak it well, it’s very important there. Not to shame anyone who doesn’t agree, I just think it makes the experience so much better.
Don’t wait to visit until your proficiency is “perfect.” Honestly the best practice you’ll get is actually being in that setting and speaking with the locals. Go in with the basics at least but just get out there and immerse yourself in that environment to truly master it.
Well if you have limited time maybe don’t do this, but if you can stay a few months there then just get to the level where you can learn from other people there easily, and then just find a friend there willing to communicate you even though he has to explain what tons of words mean. This way you’ll learn a lottt very quickly.
Did this exact same thing when I went and, I have to say, it's one of the most rewarding things you'll ever do. Just something as simple as being able to navigate the restaurants and buy bus tickets and admission tickets in Japanese, you really do feel the sense of relief on people's faces when they realize they can just keep it simple in their native language and people are super willing to help. It is entirely why I went back a second time and plan on going back a third next year. The conversations are just so surreal. They never get old.
I've only been learning Japanese for about half a year. I only know basic phrases but gosh it feels so nice to watch some of those shirts with Japanese writing a being like "wow, I can actually read it!", or watching anime and missing some subtitles and something in my brain clicks and "wtf my mind just dubbed this part for me". I learned English as a second language since I was a kid, so I don't have much recollection of having the feeling of "Hey, I understand this and that!", so experiencing it with Japanese is so cool and makes me want to keep learning.
My wife I went to Austria, Germany, and Switzerland and even though virtually everyone under 40 speaks English, we really wanted to try the German weve been working so very hard for over a year. Everyone was jist so nice and appreciated us. A little consideration goes a long way.
Same. I've been studying japanese for about 3 years before coming to Japan for the first time and I felt so good when I can understand japanese people when they're giving directions, buy a tickt, or when i order something. Even if they have to speak slowly, or I speak in broken japanese and just in phrases it was amazing to realize that I can actually do and say that much for my first time in Japan. And more fulfilling that all those studying was worth it.
I’m currently studying Japanese for my visit next year! I just love languages so I know Chinese a bit too lol I may learn something else eventually as well
These shorts are cute. It’s heartwarming to see all the people you interview try so hard to respect the Japanese culture. The turnaround they performed after the war is a lesson for the world. ❤
The best reactions I got for my Japanese was when I was visiting Hachijoujima. I walked into a cafe and the lady working there just had this surprise-terrified look until I started speaking Japanese and she was visibly relieved and said as much. The reaction from hotel staff there was pretty good too. They had someone come explain things in English and since I was travelling with friends I used English for their benefit, but when I spoke Japanese the woman explaining things went like "You should've told us that you understand Japanese!" It was apparently a bit of a challenge for them to decide who was confident enough with English to speak with us.
This is the perfect example of a good tourist. He cares about the people of the country he is visiting. He’s visiting their country but wants them to feel comfortable and not ashamed. Good on him
what a lovely guy... a lot of westerners expect Asians to speak English when they get here instead of adapting themselves. The first time I saw a white person try to speak my local language correctly was a Jehovah Witness missionary, they have a really good language program!
Suprise suprise, people going to other countries in 2023 expect english to be spoken, just because japan lives 80 years in the past doesnt make it weird
Ehmm actually we Westeners mostly don't even have English as out native language but wherever you go in the world it is the middle ground when both people don't speak eachothers language and it is literally the language every country here in the comment section uses to communicate with eachother so.. Yeah, if a foreigner is in my country should I expect them to speak my language or speak English then, you tell me what's worse??
@@DeliciouslyMild That's never going to happen. Spanish proficiency in the US may be growing rapidly... so more people may become bilingual (about time) but it won't replace English as a main language.
This guy is great. Although I have been 11 times I just can't learn other languages, tried and failed. Wish i could, thankfully the people are so accommodating and nice.
I learnt Japanese because i wanted to be a good guest in their country. The small successes really heighten the travel experience. 5 years later, I still study although I've never lived in Japan.
honestly literally same. I've dreamed for years to go to Japan and I've been studying Japanese since then. I would like to be able to communicate with Japanese people in a way that eases stress and lets me enjoy more than just the tourist traps.
A golden retriever in human form he's so considerate and passion, trying to understand someone else culture, language, feeling and more is a really great qualities, keep going young man
@@Astrid-jx5dw Brother, my plans got cancelled, but luckily my Japanese skills are still improving. Hopefully I'm going this January. I appreciate it though!
@@nathanieldewitt1794 Oh that’s a bummer. But there’s always another January, which I think is the best season to visit Japan, considering how hot their summer can be. Hope your next plan will work! Best wishes
See, *this* is how tourists should behave and comport themselves - with humility and thoughtfulness. Regardless of whatever country you visit, be respectful and considerate. This guy is great! 👍
Why someone should be shy for not speaking another language. From the Japanese point of view you're in my country on my land as a foreigner and it's on me that we can't communicate with each other.
I can relate to him,im going in October and learning since December,l have completed a few Language Course Disc and immerse myself in Japanese, l watch Ringu 1,2, 3 and Heavenly Forest on repeat,l am learning Ue O muite Arukoa
.....ooops..... "Ue O Muite Arukou" l meant,this is the famous song by Kyu Sakamoto (off by heart) in case l am asked to do Karaoke some night,that will be my party piece!🎉 I am so excited to go to Tokyo and am nailing all the basic questions. I think l will have enough to order food,drink,ask directions and ask basic questions about the person l talk to. I like to call it "Disco Japanese " i.e. just enough to chat in a bar or club,small talk if you will. Roll on Tokyo!😊
It will feel even better when you're able to assist strangers at the train station or post office, etc., to get what they need by translating for them.
I hope to be like him in the future! Im 16 atm and want to be a JET when Im done with university and so my studies have started! Its pretty hard studying alone though😢
I appreciate that this tourist did his research. I too have been working on phrases out of respect. Other countries don’t appreciate you trying as much as I hear Japan does.
