Why Setting A Specific Goal Is Important In Your Language Learning Journey
Hi everyone!
So today post is going to be a bit different from usual. I found this video from a Japanese language teacher on the difference between Japanese language learner and Japanese native speaker.
She made a very interesting point on how important it is to set a goal on what kind of Japanese native speaker you want to be.
目指している日本人とはどんな日本人ですか。
Mezashite iru nihonjin wa donna nihonjin desu ka?
What kind of Japanese native speaker you aspired to be?
東京出身ですか？
Is it someone from Tokyo?
大阪出身ですか？
Or from Osaka?
沖縄出身ですか？
Or from Okinawa?
年代は？20代？30代？
What is the age range? 20s? 30s?
So why is she asking questions like this? It’s because among Japanese native speakers, there would be a difference on how you speak based on your hometown, age etc.
What you first need to do if you want to improve your spoken Japanese is to set a detailed goal on what kind of Japanese you want to speak.
Anyway, that’s all for this post. I’d recommend her channel if your Japanese level is in intermediate level as she provides subtitles in her teaching videos.
Good luck! Isshoni ganbaroune!
Wow, this is really interesting! I’ve never considered this before in my Japanese studies.
Are there resources out there for this? To be able to learn with?
Some advice/unsolicited opinions on determining what kind of Japanese speaker you would like to be. In my personal experience with studying & teaching (beginner) Japanese and interacting with native speakers, the best goal to begin with is to learn standard Japanese (that’s Tokyo Japanese, the Japanese taught in the classroom). Speaking politely is very important in Japan, no matter where you live or what your age, so mastering basic keigo is also important.
Next, you can focus on learning slang and ways of speaking that fit your age group. If you’re in your 40s and trying to talk like a high schooler, it will sound strange (just like it would in any language, right?). If you’re a high schooler and talk to other high schoolers using extremely polite business Japanese, it will also sound strange. If you speak very polite Japanese to people of your own age or younger, and very casual Japanese to people who are above you in rank or age, it will be awkward and off-putting. Your casual Japanese slang will naturally depend on your peer group or the group that shares your interests, and the kind of slang you use will change with age (mine certainly has!), so people in your age range or that share the same hobbies as you will be the best people to learn colloquial Japanese from outside of the textbook.
If you are going to study abroad or work in a place where they speak a dialect, or if your family traditionally speaks a particular dialect, this is the best way to start learning a dialect. I studied abroad adjacent to Tokyo and my husband’s family is from Tokyo, so I have never learnt a dialect because it would not have any tangible benefit for me. I have, however, picked up some of the nuances from Osaka-ben, Tohoku dialects, and Kyushu dialects from hearing more of these dialects while speaking with other people or watching dramas. And yes, I occasionally throw them in for fun. But unless you are going to spend the majority of your time speaking with a group of people who speak a particular dialect or living in a place with a certain dialect (so that you can naturally learn it in everyday conversation), perfecting a particular dialect doesn’t have a direct benefit.
That’s not to say you absolutely shouldn’t study a dialect - they are interesting and give you a lot of insight into the different regions of Japan. As you are exposed to more and more people and content, you’ll start to pick up on the variety of dialects and their differences. It might also help you when speaking with people from a region outside of Tokyo. It’s just not essential to focus your studies on a particular dialect unless you will be living there or people close to you speak that dialect often. Although if you choose to try to learn a dialect you will appear quirky and (if you get good at the dialect) you will impress native Japanese speakers. I have met people who studied a particular dialect for only these reasons, so hey you do you!
What do Japanese people think?
When I asked Japanese students from Tokyo, Osaka, and Kumamoto if they would recommend that someone who was studying Japanese learn any particular dialect (if they didn’t live in one of those places), they overwhelmingly said no. One person from Osaka told me they would feel weirded out if a foreigner with no connection to the area affected an Osaka accent just because (but that was only one person’s opinion). The Japanese people I asked recommended focusing on standard Japanese since it is the national language used across the entire country and would be the most beneficial to master.
TL;DR
Learn standard Japanese and keigo first. Learn Japanese slang that matches your age group or interest group and is used by your peers. Learn the Japanese dialect that matches where you live (or want to live!) and the people around you.
PS. I checked out Akane-san’s videos and they are great for intermediate learners (or even beginners who want to practice listening). She speaks clearly and has Japanese subtitles, and the content is well thought-out.
Yes! Absolutely! Even if when I did my degree in Kansai area, majority of my Japanese language teachers would speak to us (especially the foreigners) in standard Japanese. Only certain older sensei don’t give a fish lol.
And keigo is a must. Japanese don’t expect us to use 尊敬語 or 謙譲語 like
自己紹介させていただきます。
ヌルと申します。
マレーシアから参りました。
どうぞよろしくお願い致します。
Just using desu masu aka 丁寧語 teineigo would be sufficient.
I’m teaching Japanese language to Malaysians, and usually they would have trouble alternating between desu masu and 普通形 . For example, they would use わかった instead of わかりました and I was like i’m not your friends, I’m your sensei.