how long?>

[BamaFan2989]

how long did it take you guys to learn some good japanese? lol i am so anxious

 

[Emoni]

Not sure yet, but I'll say for myself as long as it takes

It also depends on what you consider "good Japanese" is. For a foreign speaker... to get by in Japan... maybe college level Japanese?

 

[Mike Cash]

By that, do you mean the level of Japanese one would need to do college level work in Japan? Or do you mean the level of Japanese one would learn in a Japanese language class at college outside Japan?

Bama, the key is patience, patience, patience. Focus on the learning, not on some distant artificial goal.

To answer your question a bit more directly, though, when I started studying I thought "reasonable proficiency in 10 years" was a good goal.

 

[Ewok85]

Next year is my 7th year of full time Japanese study, including 13months in Japan. I still dont consider my Japanese to be great, only intermediate-advanced at best (on a good day).

A few more years in Japan (or 5) I might get to a level that I would feel comfortable with. But its the kinda thing you never stop learning about. Mike could confirm that

 

[PopCulturePooka]

Been in Japan for 18 months this Friday.

Can barely communicate basic survival things.

 

[StarCrap]

Next year is my 7th year of full time Japanese study, including 13months in Japan. I still dont consider my Japanese to be great, only intermediate-advanced at best (on a good day).

A few more years in Japan (or 5) I might get to a level that I would feel comfortable with. But its the kinda thing you never stop learning about. Mike could confirm that

Whoa.....that is some skills you got there.

 

[BlaqJap]

It's a long road, for me it's been on and off for a year and I'm still on basic level. Now I can concerntrate more. I figure a good rest-of-my-life then I'll be fluent.

 

[SajberJohan]

I've studied for a month at an university and well, let's just say I can ask how much the miulk costs, make a short selfpresentation, say where things are, ask people to do stuff for me, and count and more

I only know about 40-45 Kanji though so I wouldnt even be able to read a toilet sign (so to speak).

Study hard!

///Johan

 

[StarCrap]

Wont be able to read a toilet sign! haha..

 

[SajberJohan]

Come to think of it, I've never seen a japanese toilet sign, maybe they just use "WC" or stickfigures >.>

 

[Mike Cash]

There are a variety of signs in use. In case one is unable to read the signs, observing which gender enters which toilet is usually a dead giveaway. In the absence of such traffic, entering just far enough to determine the presence or absence of urinals usually does the trick.

Although they are declining in number, there are toilets in Japan meant to be used by both sexes. A urinal is usually a given in these, but in the case of there being two stalls, one of them may be marked as reserved for use by ladies.

A company I used to work for had a toilet like that, and the ladies in the office usually just delayed their business until their lunch break, when they went off premises.

 

[SajberJohan]

Are there any public toilets in Japan?

 

[Mike Cash]

You can spot enough Japanese men pissing outdoors to make you think there are no public toilets in Japan (or that Japan itself is a public toilet), but regular public toilets do exist. In recent years the number of convenience stores has increased rapidly, and almost all of them provide a toilet. I know of a few in Tokyo which do not, but almost all do. And nobody at the store will care if you just use the toilet and don't buy anything.

I've seen signs in some Toyota (I think it was) dealerships saying "トイレスルー" (Toilet thru....like "drive-thru"), indicating that you are welcome to stop there and use their toilets.