Language Rollercoster
Over the weekend, eventhough I knew my friends were safe and that things were getting back to normal in London, I still felt shaken about the bombings. But that's not to say I didn't try to have a normal weekend.
Friday night is now Japanese Language Class night. This week, Debbie came with me to the class. We did a writing and speaking introduction exercise, which was good for us to getto know teh other students, and some grammer on how to say "I don't need to ....". We both enjoyed the class and agreed that, even though it's difficult, it's goingto be great for our Japanese. I certainly I felt a lot more confident about my Japanese.
After we went to Yammane to play pool while we waited for Erik and Sally to arrive after their enkai. When they arrived, we saw they had brought some teachers with them for a ni-ji kai. We played some darts and headed onto Kumakichi for more drinks. Somehow, I ended up next to the IT advisor and we tried to talk. It was a bit frustrating because he mumbled and spoke quietly, so I couldn't hear him properly half the time. And when I spoke, he couldn't get what I was trying to say. I know I can't speak perfect Japanese, but usually people can work out what I'm trying to say from the broken fragments. But with this guy, it wasn't happening. I could feel my earlier optomism drain away.
On Saturday it was Mel's birthday so Debs, Annie and I headed out to Joestu to celebrate with Mel, Tiff, Lindsey and Carrie at a beach party. The venue was a big wooden hut with a stage on one side and the other side opening out onto the beach; so you could dance your arse off or go and chill. Nice idea. I was surprised to bump into the girl from footy again. I chatted to her for a bit in Japanese, which she seemed to understand, before heading off to dance again. I wonder where I'll bump into her next.
On the Sunday, I found out that there had been bomb scares in Birmingham and didn't feel like doing much at all that day. I decided, since i was in Joetsu and near the cinema, to go see a movie. Batman didn't start until gone 6 so I opted for War of the Worlds. I must say, I was very impressed by the movie. Of course there have been some changes to the novel but the movie has a similar spirit and it carries it across in a believable way avoiding the usual disaster movie cliches.
When I got home, set about making scones for my English Club Tea Party. As I was making them, I got a call from some Japanese guy. He spoke really quickly so it was difficult to work out what he was after. And he refused to slow down when I asked or repeat himself eventhough he could hear I was having difficulty understanding him. When I explained that my Japanese wasn;t too good, he replied "Hai, so desu" <"Yes, it is isn't it?">. He hung up soon afterwards too, cheeky bastard. So that really made me feel useless.
But yesterday my confidence got a boost again. I was asked to the school office to check my Tokyo travel expenses. The guy in the office asked me questions about my travel plans and I was able to understand him and answer him all on my own. I was even happier that an English teacher on the other side of the room and the guy decided to ask me first rather than defaulting automatically to asking me through the JTE.
And my scones were a success at the English Club Tea Party too. Double bonus.
Friday night is now Japanese Language Class night. This week, Debbie came with me to the class. We did a writing and speaking introduction exercise, which was good for us to getto know teh other students, and some grammer on how to say "I don't need to ....". We both enjoyed the class and agreed that, even though it's difficult, it's goingto be great for our Japanese. I certainly I felt a lot more confident about my Japanese.
After we went to Yammane to play pool while we waited for Erik and Sally to arrive after their enkai. When they arrived, we saw they had brought some teachers with them for a ni-ji kai. We played some darts and headed onto Kumakichi for more drinks. Somehow, I ended up next to the IT advisor and we tried to talk. It was a bit frustrating because he mumbled and spoke quietly, so I couldn't hear him properly half the time. And when I spoke, he couldn't get what I was trying to say. I know I can't speak perfect Japanese, but usually people can work out what I'm trying to say from the broken fragments. But with this guy, it wasn't happening. I could feel my earlier optomism drain away.
On Saturday it was Mel's birthday so Debs, Annie and I headed out to Joestu to celebrate with Mel, Tiff, Lindsey and Carrie at a beach party. The venue was a big wooden hut with a stage on one side and the other side opening out onto the beach; so you could dance your arse off or go and chill. Nice idea. I was surprised to bump into the girl from footy again. I chatted to her for a bit in Japanese, which she seemed to understand, before heading off to dance again. I wonder where I'll bump into her next.
On the Sunday, I found out that there had been bomb scares in Birmingham and didn't feel like doing much at all that day. I decided, since i was in Joetsu and near the cinema, to go see a movie. Batman didn't start until gone 6 so I opted for War of the Worlds. I must say, I was very impressed by the movie. Of course there have been some changes to the novel but the movie has a similar spirit and it carries it across in a believable way avoiding the usual disaster movie cliches.
When I got home, set about making scones for my English Club Tea Party. As I was making them, I got a call from some Japanese guy. He spoke really quickly so it was difficult to work out what he was after. And he refused to slow down when I asked or repeat himself eventhough he could hear I was having difficulty understanding him. When I explained that my Japanese wasn;t too good, he replied "Hai, so desu" <"Yes, it is isn't it?">. He hung up soon afterwards too, cheeky bastard. So that really made me feel useless.
But yesterday my confidence got a boost again. I was asked to the school office to check my Tokyo travel expenses. The guy in the office asked me questions about my travel plans and I was able to understand him and answer him all on my own. I was even happier that an English teacher on the other side of the room and the guy decided to ask me first rather than defaulting automatically to asking me through the JTE.
And my scones were a success at the English Club Tea Party too. Double bonus.
Niigata JET Blogs
5 Comments:
yeah, i hate it when they do that. i think sometimes, as soon as they see you're foreign they assume you cant speak japanese and just block out what you're saying, even when it's understandable. either that or they'll keep on speaking dead fast in crazy polite language at you. annoying.
It's the most frustrating an demoralizing thing isn't it. You spend ages studying Japanese and when you finally pluck up teh courage to try it out, the person sees you're foreign and assumes that there is no way they can understand you.
Does anyone have any tips to counter this?
I don`t think there is any way... I saw it happen to Ian in December last year and he speaks frickin well... I always just look at them in the eyes and say `Nihongo hanasemasuka?` while smiling and they always reply that they do and from there you have there attention cause by answering your question they have acknowledged that you have commuincated at least one sentence and thus dialogue is a little more open. It also means because you challenged their nationalism by asking if they could speak their own language they will make every effort to try and understand you as proof but because you smiled they won`t be SURE whether you were trying to be combative and thus won`t be upset... Not always guaranteed to work but from my experience with all but the very few people who don`t like foreigners, it has gotten the ball rolling a little better for me...
I like the psychology behind that approach. Might have to start giving it a whirl.
Dude don't worry about it, I work with that IT guy and I think he has trouble making social conversation with even his own colleagues...
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