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| Tweet Topic Started: Jun 25 2013, 04:50 AM (4,295 Views) | |
| Post #21 Mar 2 2016, 03:40 PM | Utsuho Lazy |
While I think I might be able to pass those tests with some short term focused studying, right now I'm still extremely bad at speaking Japanese, even though I could read it without any problem. It's mostly an issue of not having anyone to practice with (and partly because I'm an antisocial introvert). My writing and listening skills are also nothing to brag about either. As it stands, even if I passed the proficiency tests and got accepted in a college, I'm most certain I wouldn't be able to follow the lessons, or even keep up with daily life in Japan in general. As such, I'd want to first immerse myself in a Japanese-only environment, till when I can actually speak out loud exactly what I'm thinking in my head, without relying on writing - that's what I meant by "learning proper Japanese." Only then will I feel ready to seriously take up something for my future career. In fact, while I'm still very hesitating, my plan is to study video game design, then try to join Koei Tecmo, in hope that one day I might be transferred to GUST Nagano studio. Yes, I'm that much of a GUST fan. |
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| Post #22 Mar 2 2016, 04:33 PM | Thunder |
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Ah... yeah, I forgot that those tests have oral parts, too. I don't know if there's varying levels of those language proficiency tests, but if the one I took for Spanish in high school was any indication, they're not difficult by a long shot. I mean, I've forgotten the vast majority of what I once knew, but at my best, anything beyond simple interactions would have been impossible. I'd have still been relying on "Como se dice [insert any one of a thousand things here] en espanol?" a lot. The introvert part will be the biggest hurdle. I wonder if you actually have to write anything by hand anymore, though... if it was typing, that would be a lot easier, I'd wager. Is there any way to find out how involved/detailed/comprehensive the tests are beforehand? Anyway, in the meantime, I guess you could try reading out loud to improve your speaking. It won't be as good as talking to someone directly, but it should help at least. Writing is just a matter of practice and listening should improve hand in hand with speaking, so at least you could make some headway without involving anyone else. So you can stay in your comfort zone. Immersion is best, agreed, but you don't have to accept no progress before you can achieve that. I say go for that dream, no matter how lofty. If you can see a path to it, go for it. I'm still kicking myself in the ass (and will be for life) for not being able to do the same. |
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| Post #23 Mar 2 2016, 05:03 PM | Utsuho Lazy |
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Actually it's the opposite - none of the Japanese proficiency tests that I know of has an oral test. Plus, the kind of speech that you learn to speak in language classes is usually not what you'd be running into in real life. This is especially true with Japanese, which has fairly simple grammar rules but an extremely complex politeness system. It's not something that you can improve without the help of native speakers. That said, I'm definitely not a stranger to Japanese in general, so I should be able to manage it no matter what. The biggest roadblock to overcome is still money though. |
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| Post #24 Mar 20 2016, 07:57 AM | Utsuho Lazy |
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Since losing my regular job, I've worked part time as a contributor for a women's magazine. But instead of the usual tech devices like smartphones and cameras, which I have expertise in, I was made to write about home appliances women are (supposedly) interested in, from refrigerators and blenders, to insane stuffs like face steamers and soy milk makers. Every article was a struggling battle as I made research all over the internet, oftentimes about things that I'd never even imagine myself finding any use in my whole life. Worse, the magazine requires a specific writing style. My articles were regularly rejected for the sole reason of being "not attractive enough to female readers" - which is just an alternative way of saying I have to praise women a whole lot more, while belittling men as helplessly women-dependent as often as possible. The entire editorial team was over the top feminist and it shows. Even then, I kept my mouth shut and worked hard. At $300/month, the pay wasn't bad, and I'm currently in dire need of money. Some cash is better than no cash. And then things went to hell a few days ago. I accidentally made a very minor anime reference in my article, and it caused a huge stir. As it turned out, 90% of the people working for the magazine, from the editor in chief to the lowly reporters, are extremely Japanophobic. In particular, they're as much anti-Japanese culture as you can ever imagine. Ironically, half of the appliances they're currently using are made by Japanese brands (Sony, Toshiba, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Hitachi, so on). But when it comes to art, they're contemptuous and disdainful of any form of Japanese entertainment, including even idols and music. So I sent an email of resignation, quitting this incredibly stressful work, not forgetting to end the mail with a "Farewell, bitches!" (in English!) And now I'm once again back to living a fully unemployed life without any sort of income, and Japan's just moved one step farther from my reach. |
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| Post #25 Mar 20 2016, 12:29 PM | VenTK |
| Why don't you do something less stressful as a part-time job? Something like retail. Or you could use your Japanese knowledge and teach simple classes for a while. |
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| Post #26 Mar 20 2016, 01:56 PM | Utsuho Lazy |
Mostly because I want to work at home at my own pace. I'm extremely uncomfortable with the noisy and tiresome workplace environment over here. And teaching classes, be it English or Japanese, would require some sort of degree at the very least. I have none. |
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| Post #27 Mar 20 2016, 05:15 PM | VenTK |
No, I'm talking about small part-time stuff. You know, like working at a small tuition centre. There was one near where I live that didn't require you to have a professional degree, just experience. Do you have any degree or qualification to your name, though? Any other work experience? Done any courses that are resume-worthy? |
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| Post #28 Mar 20 2016, 06:23 PM | Thunder |
| Dunno if you need credentials for this, but there's also tutoring if that's an available option. |
Aurica's Oracle & Arcadia's Vanguard
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Aurica Nestmile's #1 fan! The Thunder of Arcadia Army Creed PURGE COUNT: 273 | |
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| Post #29 Sep 22 2016, 11:15 AM | Utsuho Lazy |
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It's been a very long time since I last talked about it, but I've finished most of the paperwork required for studying in Japan. Should the rest of the visa process go smoothly, I'll be flying to Japan in about 2 weeks. This didn't come easy though - I had to go through a lot of challenges to meet the financial requirements, including borrowing from relatives I detest, and bank loan (with thankfully low interest rate). Currently, I'm under some pretty bad debt that will prevent me from being able to enjoy myself as I want to in Japan, and I'll also need to look for part time jobs to at least cover the living expenses (life in Japan is expensive). This is going to be the most significant turning point in my life, so there's quite a lot of pressure. That said, moving to Japan and being surrounded by a culture I've fully dedicated myself to, is like a dream come true to me. As someone who's never had a single hour of Japanese class in life, this is my chance to actually learn the language properly and I won't waste it. |
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| Post #30 Sep 22 2016, 01:34 PM | e-Knight |
That's awesome news, man... congratulations on deciding to take this step!I'm sure you will have no trouble finding a decent baito. You already have excellent Japanese skills, and that will surely open up more possibilities for you compared to the average foreign student. Where are you going to study, if I might ask? Living cost is not prohibitively expensive everywhere. Here in Tokyo, however... ugh... I was telling myself those very same things three months ago, and while I still pretty much feel like I'm in the eye of a storm I don't regret my decision. Ultimately, if this is what you deeply wanted to do for a long time, then that's all that matters, really. Edited by e-Knight, Sep 22 2016, 01:35 PM.
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| Post #31 Sep 22 2016, 03:43 PM | Utsuho Lazy |
Niigata. |
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| Post #32 Sep 23 2016, 10:02 PM | VenTK |
| I'm glad you've sorted out the financial side of your relocation. What is it that you'll be studying there anyway? |
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| Post #33 Sep 24 2016, 06:18 AM | Utsuho Lazy |
First Japanese, then video game development/programming. To be honest I also want to study illustration, but as much as I love being able to draw my own things, an illustrator's job isn't exactly a stable one, and I need income fast to pay back my debt and to start living independently without needing to rely on my sister. |
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| Post #34 Oct 4 2016, 12:34 PM | Utsuho Lazy |
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Before I notice it, it's already 10/4. I'll be flying to Japan tomorrow night. This is going to be the most important trip in my entire life. Hopefully everything will be alright - I'm extremely weak to pressure, especially in a completely new environment. |
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| Post #35 Oct 4 2016, 03:52 PM | VenTK |
| Take care, man! And don't blow your cash when you get there. |
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| Post #36 Oct 7 2016, 06:38 AM | Utsuho Lazy |
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Currently in Niigata, and I already feel like wanting to collapse sometimes. While there's not much difficulty with my basic daily life so far, one extremely major issue is that there's no internet at my apartment yet. In order to set up internet, or even get a phone to use 4G, I'd need to get a bank account first, which requires my residence registration progress to be completed, which will take at least a week. In other words, for at least a week, I won't have any internet connection other than public WiFi spots like convenience stores. This is frustrating because I rely heavily on the net not only for recreation but also for contacts, works, and information gathering. Not having access to the internet (plus living all alone in an apartment) makes me feel incredibly lonely and cut off from the rest of the world. Even worse, my school isn't helping. Before coming here, they promised that they'd give me full support until I've settled down and gotten used to life in Japan. But surprisingly, the only thing they've done so far was handling the paperworks, which is not what I'm supposed to do anyway. Everything else I've had to take care of all by myself. I'm lucky to have some functional Japanese to support me, but imagine those new students who come here without any Japanese knowledge. They'd probably die of frustration. |
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| Post #37 Oct 7 2016, 11:10 AM | e-Knight |
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I can feel your pain... the amount of red tape you have to deal with to get everything up and running in Japan is just insane. On some days you'd almost think that even breathing could trigger another bureaucratic procedure. Workplaces and schools claim they will support you, but most of the time they will just take care of the paperwork which involves them directly. For anything relating to your private life (i.e. most of the stuff), you're on your own. Being cut off the Internet is frustrating, especially in a foreign country where you likely really need it to gather a ton of useful information. Unfortunately a residence registration, a Japanese bank account and/or a Japanese phone/mobile contact number are required for pretty much everything, so just hang on for a few days! |
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| Post #38 Oct 8 2016, 01:54 AM | Utsuho Lazy |
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Oh trust me it's just crazy. I asked the teacher that took me to my apartment about how to install internet in my room, she told me to ask the teacher who handles student housing. I asked that teacher, he said he wasn't sure and told me to ask the apartment manager. The manager was sick and wasn't at the apartment, the only way to contact him was by phone, and of course I don't have a mobile phone yet. I wasted some money at a pay phone to call the manager just to hear that this apartment building has no internet. I was like, what, wouldn't the foreign students before me complain like mad about this lack of absolute necessity then? I reported back to the housing teacher, and after about 10 minutes of "researching" he told me "If there's no internet there, you can use rental Wi-Fi." Apparently to all the people involved (and probably most people here), Wi-Fi isn't internet. I wonder where it connects to then, the underworld? And of course, Wi-Fi rental also requires a bank account so I can't get it before having access to 4G anyway. Throughout the entire fiasco, I had to use many words and expressions that normally would require at least half a year of study in order to use correctly. Now replace me with a new guy who knows no Japanese other than basic greetings - he'd probably just give up and fly home crying already. Not something worth complaining about compared to the lack of internet, but apparently this apartment is so cheap because it's right next to a graveyard. My room is on the second floor, and it's so close that if I stand on the balcony and reach out, I can literally touch some of the taller grave slabs. Isn't that awesome. Also, wanted to buy some Vita games to play through this isolation period, but realized that without internet I can't look up guides or information online. Life sucks. |
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| Post #39 Oct 8 2016, 02:24 AM | Xitilon |
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I don't think I'm particularly qualified to reply here, but just want to say that. Japan isn't really known as a gaijin-welcoming country, more like the opposite, and I guess you knew that beforehand, didn't you? Anyway, judging by what you say, I'm sure you'll definitely get through all that. Maybe buying some cheap coffee at cafes is an option to snag some Wi-Fi. (depends on the money...) I'd go for a full offline local map system at first. Apartment next to a graveyard sounds to me equal parts weird and cool. I'd go check it out! I'm not getting anywhere near Japan anytime soon, now that sucks, because I'd want to! Good luck! |
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| Post #40 Oct 8 2016, 04:05 AM | Utsuho Lazy |
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How to anime without home internet or 4G. 1. While outside, connect laptop to 7-11 free Wi-Fi and set up torrents running. 2. Disable laptop auto Standby, close the lid and put into backpack. 3. Enter store and shop around for about 20 mins, checking news on phone at the same time. 4. Return home to find torrents completed without ever looking suspicious. |
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