Foreign languages

cantueso · Joined: 05 Aug 2007 Posts: 1

Mehta wrote in message news:...
> People always list foreign languages as 'low enrolment' areas
>
> My uni has to have four different groups for
> my Japanese subjects, and the classes are still over crowded.
>
> In the future, people who know Japanese etc will be a dime a dozen.

but the problem is that the enrolment is usually high only in
beginner courses. it is fun to begin but for most people language
studies are boring and they give up.

here in Spain, Europe, very few people would study Japanese; all have
to study English. very few get anywhere. I´d say fewer than 1
percent. there aren´t any statistics though, as far as I know.

Archived from group: aus>education

Mehta · Joined: 05 Aug 2007 Posts: 1

People always list foreign languages as 'low enrolment' areas at
universities, along with subjects such as physics.

What are they on about. My uni has to have four different groups for
my Japanese subjects, and the classes are still over crowded.

In the future, people who know Japanese etc will be a dime a dozen.
If I'm at a job interview and I say that I know Japanese, the
interviewer will probably say "yeah, we get alot of them".

Justin Semmel · Joined: 05 Aug 2007 Posts: 2

I think we live in a region when Japanese skills are more relevant. Also,
there is a cultural shift towards an appreciation of Japanese that comes
from the longstanding attraction to the anime series that are becoming a
strong part of our popular culture.

Cheers,
Juz
wrote in message@posting.google.com...
> Mehta wrote in message news:...
> > People always list foreign languages as 'low enrolment' areas
> >
> > My uni has to have four different groups for
> > my Japanese subjects, and the classes are still over crowded.
> >
> > In the future, people who know Japanese etc will be a dime a dozen.
>
>
> but the problem is that the enrolment is usually high only in
> beginner courses. it is fun to begin but for most people language
> studies are boring and they give up.
>
> here in Spain, Europe, very few people would study Japanese; all have
> to study English. very few get anywhere. I´d say fewer than 1
> percent. there aren´t any statistics though, as far as I know.

Mehta · Joined: 05 Aug 2007 Posts: 5

Justin Semmel wrote:
>
> I think we live in a region when Japanese skills are more relevant. Also,
> there is a cultural shift towards an appreciation of Japanese that comes
> from the longstanding attraction to the anime series that are becoming a
> strong part of our popular culture.

Lol, I don't think people who learn Japanese for anime purposes get very
far with it.

The overcrowding problem I speak of seems to be relevant only to
Japanese... other languages at my uni (eg. Indonesian) have quite poor
enrolment numbers.

Claire R · Joined: 05 Aug 2007 Posts: 3

I think you're right. There are many more people in Australia doing
languages now than ever before. But I don't think that knowing a
language is ever going to hinder your chances of gaining a job because
too many people know that language. Learning and knowing a language is
not only good for gaining employment (however that prospect may look
in the future) but gaining a greater world understanding and
appreciation.

Justin Semmel · Joined: 05 Aug 2007 Posts: 2

Seriously, I know one guy at the JLPT Level 3 skill level, and I'm
struggling toward Level 4. Quite a few people choose it at my local unis
because of j-culture's affects through anime. It is also a popular language
for business and trade relations with a strong trading partner. And, well,
Tokyo has more glamour than Djakarta.

Cheers,
Juz

"Mehta" wrote in message@email.com...
> Justin Semmel wrote:
> >
> > I think we live in a region when Japanese skills are more relevant.
Also,
> > there is a cultural shift towards an appreciation of Japanese that comes
> > from the longstanding attraction to the anime series that are becoming a
> > strong part of our popular culture.
>
> Lol, I don't think people who learn Japanese for anime purposes get very
> far with it.
>
> The overcrowding problem I speak of seems to be relevant only to
> Japanese... other languages at my uni (eg. Indonesian) have quite poor
> enrolment numbers.

cantueso · Joined: 05 Aug 2007 Posts: 4

"Justin Semmel" wrote in message news:...
> Seriously, I know one guy at the JLPT Level 3 skill level, and I'm

> because of j-culture's affects through anime.

I am writing from Spain, Europe. Would you mind telling me what
"anime" means? I have seen this term both in your and your friend´s
text above.

when you learn Japanese, do you have to learn their writing, too?

I thought Japanese was immensely difficult for Westerners to learn.

cantueso · Joined: 05 Aug 2007 Posts: 4

Mehta wrote

It's not prohibitively difficult... some aspects of Japanese are
easier
> than, for example, German, and of course some aspects are harder.

according to some British Institute publication, it is thought that
people who take the higher level exams will have had some 800 hours of
active learning.

of course, it is impossible to know really; there are too many
variables like above all age, inclination and contact. still, would
you think 800 hours is about right to reach a good practical level?
not a proficiency level of course.

another question: my impression is that most people learn, then give
up, then start again, give up, and start again, unable to do anything
for their second language unless they oblige themselves to attend
classes. lack of maintenance. would you share this view?

Claire R · Joined: 05 Aug 2007 Posts: 3

>
> "{Probably... not that many people seem commited enough to study a
> language for a very long time. In first semster Japanese at my uni,
> there are 163 people. 3rd semester has 85, 5th semester has 37 and 7th
> semester has 12.}"

So in terms of getting a job many people may be able to say they have
at least studied a language. But not so many completed a whole course
of study for that particular language. Would you say this is correct?

Mehta · Joined: 05 Aug 2007 Posts: 5

Anime = Japanese animation.

> when you learn Japanese, do you have to learn their writing, too?

Of course... we learn reading, writing, listening and speaking.

> I thought Japanese was immensely difficult for Westerners to learn.

It's not prohibitively difficult... some aspects of Japanese are easier
than, for example, German, and of course some aspects are harder.

Mehta · Joined: 05 Aug 2007 Posts: 5

Statistics I read today say that 4% of tertiary students are enrolled in
language studies... so I suppose it's not too much.

Stephen X. Carter · Joined: 05 Aug 2007 Posts: 25

On 22 Mar 2004 01:30:22 -0800, cantueso@dieznet.com
(cantueso) wrote:

>"Justin Semmel" wrote in message news:...
>> Seriously, I know one guy at the JLPT Level 3 skill level, and I'm
>
>> because of j-culture's affects through anime.
>
>I am writing from Spain, Europe. Would you mind telling me what
>"anime" means? I have seen this term both in your and your friend´s
>text above.

"anime" is a style of cartoon drawing.

--
steve@stephencarterNOSPAM.net
Nothing is Beatle Proof!!

cantueso · Joined: 05 Aug 2007 Posts: 4

Mehta wrote

> Probably... not that many people seem commited enough to study a
> language for a very long time.

well, at some stage the obligation to study should turn into
something useful. if I learn English I get access to the world press;
if I study French, I can read Marcel Proust; and by accessing that
press or that literature, I continue learning.

the trouble is that there are too many people trying who can´t make
any use of no matter how much they learn. English of course is
fashionable; so some want it as just one more feather in the cap....
since Japanese is considered difficult, maybe the market does not try
to entice every Tom, Dick, and Harry.

Mehta · Joined: 05 Aug 2007 Posts: 5

> another question: my impression is that most people learn, then give
> up, then start again, give up, and start again, unable to do anything
> for their second language unless they oblige themselves to attend
> classes. lack of maintenance. would you share this view?

Probably... not that many people seem commited enough to study a
language for a very long time. In first semster Japanese at my uni,
there are 163 people. 3rd semester has 85, 5th semester has 37 and 7th
semester has 12.

Mehta · Joined: 05 Aug 2007 Posts: 5

Claire R wrote:
>
> >
> > "{Probably... not that many people seem commited enough to study a
> > language for a very long time. In first semster Japanese at my uni,
> > there are 163 people. 3rd semester has 85, 5th semester has 37 and 7th
> > semester has 12.}"
>
> So in terms of getting a job many people may be able to say they have
> at least studied a language. But not so many completed a whole course
> of study for that particular language. Would you say this is correct?

That was sort of my point... but I hope employers would recognise the
difference.