This (Mizushima Hiro!!! xD)

Joking aside. I'm not sure I would say whether Japanese people speak worse or better English (accent aside). But it seems like the numbers of Native Japanese English-speakers have been increasing, as indicated when my school's Japanese class went on their Japan trip to be able to socialize naturally with Native speakers, but ended up conversing most of the time in English due to the large amount of Japanese people who just came up to them wanting to practice their English on them lol.


edit.

Okay, I just couldn't resist, but last one, I swear.

Last edited by CatzCradle at 8:43 pm, Mar 28 2010

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I don't really know any Japanese folk, and since I read manga, watch anime, and listen to their songs and being on a forum directly relating to the Japanese, I thought it would be nice to learn a bit more about, well, the Japanese in general, so that I can satisfy my curiosity without putting them to the fire. And hey, wouldn't knowing this bit more help in understanding each other more, and silly misunderstandings would be less likely to happen? I'm sorry I don't go out of town much and the like, but it was an innocent question. No need to be up in arms about it.

I can't say I understand why you would be so agitated about the question. I would gladly say I speak and write English fairly well if I do, and say no if I don't. What's wrong with asking what 'English' is to the Japanese? Would you be offended if I asked what English is to you? If you are indeed offended, I guess there is not much left to argue about.

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Lego & manga. The building blocks of life.

@CatzCradle - ;D Mizushima Hiro's English is so adorable! <3

Anyways, I heard somewhere (forgot where) that they teach Japanese students atleast 8 years of English. I'm not stating this as a fact, just sharing something I remembered reading.. but they don't really converse in English other than in classrooms and such.. so I'm guessing they'd lose their touch.
Y'know, get a little rusty. :3 Plus, as another member said,

I agree. Something that you were taught since you were born, would be difficult to change, even after years of educating.

So basically, they were taught English. They can most likely speak it (sometimes with an accent.) But they can also choose not to speak it, you know?

It's not that they're "not that good" even in High School, but since they don't use English all the time, every single day, don't expect them to be fluent. There's also the thing with Japanese Grammar compared to English. It's different, so it would be tough not to miss a few words or have errors here and there.

Why am I annoyed?

Because it's a silly question.
It depends on the individual anyway!
What kind of an idiot asks a whole group how well they know a complex thing, such as a language, and expect just one answer?
No one can answer it for anyone other than themselves.

What you're doing is like asking any other person who is not of a nationality where English is not the first language how well they can speak/understand English.

It's a sick stereotype.

I am being butthurt about this because it annoys me to hell when people assume I don't speak/understand proper English just because I'm Asian when in fact, I know it better than they do.

Asking an Asian or an ethnic group (whose first language is not English) "how well they can speak English", no matter how good your intentions are, can be patronizing.

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Everyday I'm tumblin'

They understand it to an extent. In most Asian countries, English classes are given. Though level of fluency differs everywhere.

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♪MONSTARR~ will eat all your cookies and steal your bishies~♪ Φ_Φ

Yes, well, I'm fairly unbiased in this matter, English is not the language they speak where I live. But I hesitate to call it a second language, it's more like another first. Anyway, the OP asked a really pointless question, but I was trying to not be too mean about it.

I could have said that I've had much more luck speaking English with Chinese in China than with Japanese in Japan (it's true, but that's just my very limited experience). It would be a seriously daft comparison, though, those countries are not the least bit like each other. I can sympathise with someone not wanting to be lumped with the general "Asian" group. But then again I'm white as a ghost, and most Asian people I've met have sorted me in the "American" group. Which would be rather insulting to me, if I actually gave a shit, and wasn't used to how people work around the world. Quickly putting things/people/happenings in categories we already know is what we humans do.

The best I can do is try to not let it rule me. I would be very much obliged if you did the same.

That's what I'm trying to break right?

Okay, let me put this another way. How about I ask: Do Japanese younger generation actually "read English for pleasure"? Or: Compared to other Asian countries, what is the proficiency of English? Would that be better?

Last edited by FacistHalfNerd at 3:28 am, Mar 31 2010

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Lego & manga. The building blocks of life.

yo dude like do the people from like africa come from cages, like i read about them and stuff and I listen to their music...honestly i can't see how that would offend an african person...damn Like, do they all go half naked wearing tribal clothing and like totally speak with them funny accents?
Well hows about this for a dose of sarcasm to open your sorry ass eyes. THINK before you post next time. OK?

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I believe in letting people do as they wish, as do I myself. Sometimes, of course, what I wish to do is kill them and they do not wish to die. This gives life interest.

There is no way that you can make this totally inoffensive.
The first question you just asked here have already been answered by me.
It depends on the individual.
The second question is basically a re-wording of the original question.
Therefore, it can still be taken as offensive.

What fr33noob has said is generally correct...no matter how crude it is.

You're not trying to break the stereotype, you're reminding people of it.
To break a stereotype, you should just ignore and forget it.

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Everyday I'm tumblin'

Let's just say our values are different.

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Lego & manga. The building blocks of life.

No, let's just say you're not using your head.

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Everyday I'm tumblin'

Let's say I am not the world.

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Lego & manga. The building blocks of life.

Everyone, let's just stop arguing, okay?

Think of your happy place.

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♪MONSTARR~ will eat all your cookies and steal your bishies~♪ Φ_Φ