Whee, I had exposure to Japanese as a little one, too! I think that my ease with the language is because I got so used to hearing it in my early years of life.

Originally Posted by xuvrette

aww... Kiki... The only Miyazaki I watched...
I like the WHOLE idea... but... somehow I don't like the story turns out.
And it just seems that, I don't like Miyazaki plot at all. XD

Is that really the only one you watched? Because I think Spirited Away is one of his best ones, next to Princess Mononoke and Nuasicaa: Valley of the Wind (may have spelt that wrong). So if you were EVER going to give him another try those would be the ones to watch!

Originally Posted by Amane

Whee, I had exposure to Japanese as a little one, too! I think that my ease with the language is because I got so used to hearing it in my early years of life.

I never heard it, but my drive to learn about a culture I already loved, was what made learning the langue easier!

I read the story synopsis, I am glad you like it, but really don't interest me much. x.x
Do not think that I do not know about other Miyazaki works even though I am not a big fan.XD I am pretty busybody and like to read up synopsis of stories.

Yep! Love and motivation is important in learning, could be anything. Not just Language.

I think Spanish is pretty easy language. I've never studied it, and I don't believe I will, but I do like this one singer who sings in Spanish, and I usually like to sing with the lyrics. So the spelling isn't difficult to me, since it's pretty familiar to Finnish. I wonder is the grammar as easy as English...

Speaking French is difficult, because the text is so different from the spelling... What kind of spelling rules are there for French? D:

I heard about the 'rumours' of French's conflict between spelling and pronuciation. XD

Originally Posted by xuvrette

I read the story synopsis, I am glad you like it, but really don't interest me much. x.x
Do not think that I do not know about other Miyazaki works even though I am not a big fan.XD I am pretty busybody and like to read up synopsis of stories.

Yep! Love and motivation is important in learning, could be anything. Not just Language.

I just have never met some one who doesn't like them! It was hard to believe~

Originally Posted by Mimmu

I think Spanish is pretty easy language. I've never studied it, and I don't believe I will, but I do like this one singer who sings in Spanish, and I usually like to sing with the lyrics. So the spelling isn't difficult to me, since it's pretty familiar to Finnish. I wonder is the grammar as easy as English...

Speaking French is difficult, because the text is so different from the spelling... What kind of spelling rules are there for French? D:

I had issues with it and found Japanese easier, but I think that is just me

I am pretty picky over story. Glad to make a history in your list, Whitete. I know a lot of people who don't care about Miyazaki.

lol. Japanese easier? than french?

Originally Posted by xuvrette

I am pretty picky over story. Glad to make a history in your list, Whitete. I know a lot of people who don't care about Miyazaki.

lol. Japanese easier? than french?

Well then I must just live around fanboys, then~~

I was speaking about Spanish, but I did sit in on a few French classes and I think i would have picked up Japanese a bit quicker then French, though I did enjoy the class...

When a language system is build out of different alphabets, it is harder to learn...
my opinion.

Originally Posted by xuvrette

When a language system is build out of different alphabets, it is harder to learn...
my opinion.

That is what I thought as well, but I picked it up pretty quickly, more so then Spanish

Is it because of passion and love?

Originally Posted by xuvrette

Is it because of passion and love?

Most likely! I really do love Japanese and their culture~

I studied Spanish for a year in high school, but switched to Japanese in college. I'm pretty fluent in Japanese now. I don't think I'll ever be at the level of a native speaker since there are so many nuances to the language, but I generally understand everything I hear these days. Reading is a different matter. I'm slowly improving my reading and I hope to be able to read novels within the next few years.

My motivation is a really high since I live in Japan and I'm surrounded by the language everyday. Plus, my boyfriend is Japanese and he rarely ever speaks to me in English (I'm pretty sure he can understand a lot of English, but it's easier for us to stick with Japanese). I'm not in a big rush to become super proficient though - I figure I have my whole life to gradually learn more each day.

Originally Posted by Ferra

I studied Spanish for a year in high school, but switched to Japanese in college. I'm pretty fluent in Japanese now. I don't think I'll ever be at the level of a native speaker since there are so many nuances to the language, but I generally understand everything I hear these days. Reading is a different matter. I'm slowly improving my reading and I hope to be able to read novels within the next few years.

My motivation is a really high since I live in Japan and I'm surrounded by the language everyday. Plus, my boyfriend is Japanese and he rarely ever speaks to me in English (I'm pretty sure he can understand a lot of English, but it's easier for us to stick with Japanese). I'm not in a big rush to become super proficient though - I figure I have my whole life to gradually learn more each day.

Holy cow! How is it over there? and what city? I soo wish I could just visit... just once in my life.

Originally Posted by whitexsuicide

Holy cow! How is it over there? and what city? I soo wish I could just visit... just once in my life.

Every situation is different, so don't take my experience as the norm. But I really love it here. I live in Sendai, up north. A decent sized city, but very different from Tokyo or any of the major cities down south. (Personally, I'd never want to live in Tokyo.)

It's expensive to visit, but I do think it's worth it. I'm here working as an English teacher so I don't have to worry about the cost of traveling so much.

Originally Posted by Ferra

Every situation is different, so don't take my experience as the norm. But I really love it here. I live in Sendai, up north. A decent sized city, but very different from Tokyo or any of the major cities down south. (Personally, I'd never want to live in Tokyo.)

It's expensive to visit, but I do think it's worth it. I'm here working as an English teacher so I don't have to worry about the cost of traveling so much.

I still find it to be amazing! I would love to live over there... It's just always been a dream of mine... something that will not happen, but I can hope to at least visit... Is it easy to teach English?

Ferrara ish here~ <3
Hmm... does the living cost there high if you work there?

Originally Posted by xuvrette

Ferrara ish here~ <3
Hmm... does the living cost there high if you work there?

Oh such good question! Do you live in a tatami apartment? OwO I always wanted to see a tatami mat!

Originally Posted by whitexsuicide

I still find it to be amazing! I would love to live over there... It's just always been a dream of mine... something that will not happen, but I can hope to at least visit...

Well it won't happen if you don't put in a lot of effort, but it's certainly not impossible.

Originally Posted by whitexsuicide

Is it easy to teach English?

That's kind of hard to answer. It's pretty easy to get a job as an English teacher since all you officially need for a visa is a bachelor's degree from a university, any major is fine. If you're a native English speaker, you can probably get an ALT (assistant language teacher) job or a job at an eikaiwa (English conversation school) pretty easily. But every job and teaching position is different and so are the demands.

In my case, I came to Japan with a foundation of Japanese study (couldn't really speak it though), a firm understanding of Japanese culture, and hundreds of hours spent studying and practicing how to teach English to non-native speakers. So the transition was relatively easy for me. (But still awkward and full of mistakes.)

But I know plenty of people, most ALTs in fact, who came with little to no Japanese or teaching experience and still do the job fine. The standards aren't exactly high. You just need to be flexible.

@xuvrette: I came to Japan via JET, which is probably the best-paid ALT program, but also the hardest to get into. So for me, the cost of living hasn't been a big problem. I've managed to make some savings, actually. But I can only stay on this contract for 5 years, so I might have trouble when I change jobs a few years from now.

---------- Post added 05-06-2013 at 04:00 PM ----------

Originally Posted by whitexsuicide

Oh such good question! Do you live in a tatami apartment? OwO I always wanted to see a tatami mat!

Nope, I have wood flooring. I'm glad I don't have tatami floors, personally. They seem like they'd be difficult to clean.

If you come through a programme, the programme paid you? Not the school you are teaching?
oh, and if you change job would you still be under the programme?

Originally Posted by xuvrette

If you come through a programme, the programme paid you? Not the school you are teaching?
oh, and if you change job would you still be under the programme?

The JET program finds a placement for you, but I'm not employed by them. I'm employed by the city. So once I leave this job my contract with JET is finished and I'd have to find a new job to sponsor my visa.

I see...
and now you are in a more delicious world than I am! D:

Easy to find job there?

Originally Posted by Ferra

Well it won't happen if you don't put in a lot of effort, but it's certainly not impossible.


That's kind of hard to answer. It's pretty easy to get a job as an English teacher since all you officially need for a visa is a bachelor's degree from a university, any major is fine. If you're a native English speaker, you can probably get an ALT (assistant language teacher) job or a job at an eikaiwa (English conversation school) pretty easily. But every job and teaching position is different and so are the demands.

In my case, I came to Japan with a foundation of Japanese study (couldn't really speak it though), a firm understanding of Japanese culture, and hundreds of hours spent studying and practicing how to teach English to non-native speakers. So the transition was relatively easy for me. (But still awkward and full of mistakes.)

But I know plenty of people, most ALTs in fact, who came with little to no Japanese or teaching experience and still do the job fine. The standards aren't exactly high. You just need to be flexible.

@xuvrette: I came to Japan via JET, which is probably the best-paid ALT program, but also the hardest to get into. So for me, the cost of living hasn't been a big problem. I've managed to make some savings, actually. But I can only stay on this contract for 5 years, so I might have trouble when I change jobs a few years from now.

---------- Post added 05-06-2013 at 04:00 PM ----------


Nope, I have wood flooring. I'm glad I don't have tatami floors, personally. They seem like they'd be difficult to clean.

Becoming a simple English teacher seems like it is easy. Do you know what age they start at? I want to say it's young, but it's been awhile since I learned that.

They do sound like a pain to clean, but I think it would still be nice to at least visit someone with them~ I am really into traditional Japanese culture~

Originally Posted by Ferra

The JET program finds a placement for you, but I'm not employed by them. I'm employed by the city. So once I leave this job my contract with JET is finished and I'd have to find a new job to sponsor my visa.

With this visa thing, Can you not just become a citizen? Or is it not like that?

I have two languages .. English and arabic
And i wish to learn dutch and Korean Also Japanese xD

A... Arabic... You know Jawi? <3