- 18 Oct 2004
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Gov't to consider Japanese language ability as requirement for long-stay foreigners
The Foreign Ministry and Justice Ministry have decided to consider making Japanese language ability a requirement for foreigners seeking long-term residency and when screening their residency permits, it has been learned.
The aim of the measures is to make it easier for the increasing number of non-Japanese in Japan to blend into the community, and provide an increased incentive for foreigners coming to Japan to learn Japanese.
Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura announced the proposed move in a news conference on Tuesday.
"Japanese language ability is important to increase the quality of foreigners' own lifestyles, and is also important for Japanese society," he said. "It will be a very good thing if this builds momentum for people to say, 'I'm going to study Japanese in order to go to Japan.'"
The government bodies are expected to consider whether to include Japanese language ability as a new screening standard for people entering the country, and consider checking whether foreigners' Japanese language ability has improved when renewing their residence permits.
However, some government officials have expressed reservations about the proposed measures, saying there is a possibility it could result in valuable human resources not being able to enter the country.
While I think it's advisable to know Japanese for someone who intends to live in Japan long-term, I don't see the benefit of making it mandatory. Are there any other countries that have such regulations?
What do you think, Armand? It's hard to have a discussion when you aren't bringing your own opinion to the table...
I'm not familiar with Switzerland's policies, could you elaborate what you meant with that reference?Compare this with Switzerland - you can be born there and speak a few languages, you still remain a foreigner.
Remember that the Japanese themselves admit that it is hard for foreigners to learn the language as a whole, and that it takes Japanese 12 years to become only relatively fluent in the 2000 kanji necessary for daily life.In my opinion, we should respect the Japanese government's opinion. They give a chance for foreigners to stay but on a condition. The tests for the knowledge should take into account that Japanese is a hard language to learn, especially the writing system and will require a lot of time
In the Netherlands it's not only mandatory for foreigners who want to stay here to learn Dutch, it's also mandatory to learn about the Dutch culture! The government believes this helps integration of foreigners. They have a good point: Everything here is in Dutch, and if you can't understand it, participating in normal, every day life becomes very difficult (no Dutch=no job=no life). I simply can not imagine living in a country where I can't understand and read the language; to me it would be completely unbearable, and make it impossible for me to participate in normal life. Just try to get a job somewhere! I think this applies to every country; just try living in China if you don't know Chinese...I agree with you. It seems antagonistic to make it mandatory. It would be beneficial for someone to know Japanese, but it should be left up to the individual. I know of no other country with such regulations.
I agree that it would be very frustrating to try living in a country where I don't speak or understand the common language, and I would work hard to learn the language to get along on my own, but there are people that get along fine and don't mind being in that situation. Should the motivation to learn a language come from within, or be imposed from an outside authority for reasons that might not apply to everyone?In the Netherlands it's not only mandatory for foreigners who want to stay here to learn Dutch, it's also mandatory to learn about the Dutch culture! The government believes this helps integration of foreigners. They have a good point: Everything here is in Dutch, and if you can't understand it, participating in normal, every day life becomes very difficult (no Dutch=no job=no life). I simply can not imagine living in a country where I can't understand and read the language; to me it would be completely unbearable, and make it impossible for me to participate in normal life. Just try to get a job somewhere! I think this applies to every country; just try living in China if you don't know Chinese...
Of course they don't mind because they are shamelessly free riding, parastically, off the backs, and in no small measure gracious good will, of their Japanese hosts. Who HAVE BEEN forced to learn English for seven or more years.I agree that it would be very frustrating to try living in a country where I don't speak or understand the common language, and I would work hard to learn the language to get along on my own, but there are people that get along fine and don't mind being in that situation.
The only incentive is that you either learn it or get out of this country.
Of course they don't mind because they are shamelessly free riding, parastically, off the backs, and in no small measure gracious good will, of their Japanese hosts. Who HAVE BEEN forced to learn English for seven or more years. I detect a 'we've made the effort, so you must to the same' nuance.
If you think getting up to speed on basic level conversation/writing skills after living in place several years is too much stress try passing an entrance exam after a course of English classes not even taught by a native instructor...Life in Japan is good, and even easy, but foreigner laziness and lack of motivation to contribute to the linguistic burden in equal measure is disgusting
Ahem. They may have studied for that long, but they certainly didn't learn anywhere near enough to be called conversationally fluent. As a teacher, I can attest to that....their Japanese hosts. Who HAVE BEEN forced to learn English for seven or more years.
No, you got it wrong. It says be functionally literate or get out if you want to live here long-term. But, the article is also vague (because it is such preliminary news) about who this affects, as I mentioned earlier -- long-term resident visa holder, or work visa holder, or perhaps even (gasp!) Permanent Resident status holders. Mind you, it may not affect the PR holders who currently have PR; the article talks about renewing visas, and PR is not a visa, nor is it renewed. The government may try to impose this on PR applicants, though. But, the terminology in the article is weird enough, so that it may just be long-term resident visa holders (which in itself is strange). Is it the fault of the government for such weirdness, or the newspaper for poor reporting/translating?All the Japanese government is saying is that you have a choice; either be functionally illiterate or literate if you want to live her long term.
When your moving to live in a foreign country long term it makes sense to learn the local language, even if you are in an environment where maybe you may not use it a lot, it should still be a requirement, not just in Japan but in every country.
I don't think it's fair to the original citizens when all sorts of immigrants come into their country to work, not speaking a word of their language and not knowing the cultural and societal behaviors that everyone is expected to conform to. It just makes life harder for everyone, especially if the people aren't even willing to try to learn the language.
That's where you get situations when people being to think their country is being overrun by immigrants and it can all just snowball into a grim situation when the original citizens feel a threat that their country is changing to suit the newcomers and pushing them aside. Japan especially seems really high strung about the issue and are perceiving a threat before one has begun, something tells me it wouldn't take much to light the fuse.