Speaking Japanese – Some Advantages
There is no question that it does take longer to learn Japanese than some other languages. At the same time, there are about 500,000 Americans who live in Japan, so it is certainly possible. Around the world, Japanese is spoken by more than 120 million people, making it a more significant language than many people realize. You’ll be in an exclusive group, but not a small one.
Companies from Japan are represented in nearly every major country in the World, befitting of one of the world’s greatest export economies. Speaking Japanese is a clear advantage if you work for a Japanese corporation, or if you want to do so.
Even to this day, in major Japanese corporations many of the very senior positions outside Japan are held by Japanese people. The best strategy for a non-Japanese to gain senior advancement is to spend some time at the Japanese facilities, perhaps two or three years, and then getting promoted to a more senior position outside Japan. That strategy makes learning Japanese essential. So get noticed and take the initiative – even if your company has an in-house program, you can stand out and rise above the pack.
The Japanese culture is one where respect is everything. Learning the Japanese language is a great way to clearly display honor and respect, and won’t go unnoticed. It is better to begin with learning to speak Japanese. Writing skills can be dealt with afterwards.
Japan is a country of adventurous travelers. Being able to speak Japanese is of great value to employers in the hospitality industry. Being able to communicate with Japanese travelers is valuable, from a professional and a personal perspective.
Japanese grammar is simpler than that of many other languages. Nouns without gender, no plurals, and no accompanying articles – this sounds easy, doesn’t it. In Japanese there are only the past and present tenses, and also there are not many irregular verbs. With spelling that is consistent phonetically and only five vowel sounds, pronunciation of Japanese is relatively easy.
Korea, China, and India, some of the greatest civilizations of Asia, have influenced Japanese culture. Asian cultures share many similarities that differentiate them from Western traditional and cultural habits. So a study of Japanese can give you a better perspective on the values that other Asian nations share with Japan, including religious beliefs, ethics, and aesthetics. If you are interested in seeing all Asian cultures with a better perspective, then learning Japanese is a good approach.
The author operates a Language website, and you are welcome to review his Learning Japanese recommendations here. Also, you may avail of a FREE 6-Day Learn Japanese Online Course.
Tags: how to speak japanese, japanese language, learn japanese, learning japanese
