Facts about Japanese

Question:  Is Japanese hard?

According to the Foreign Service Institute of the Department (FSI) of State and other research, Japanese is placed as a Category III language (as well as Arabic, Cantonese, Mandarin, and Korean), and considered an exceptionally difficult language for native English speakers.  Even among those considered Category III languages, Japanese is considered the most difficult.  Research has also shown that learning Japanese takes almost four times longer than Spanish and French to reach a certain level of understanding and fluency. 

As a teacher, I try to facilitate student learning as much as possible, and I tell my students that Japanese is simply different, not difficult.  Learning Japanese is not a scary undertaking, but it does require time and effort. 

Please encourage your child by emphasizing that he/she is learning a challenging, but rewarding language.  Please understand that your child will not be learning at the same pace as they would if taking other languages such as Spanish or French. 

Question:  Is Japanese useful?

You might believe that Japanese is not a practical language, but it is.  Did you know that Japan is ranked second amongst Georgia’s top export markets?  In addition, Georgia ranks second in being home to most Japanese companies after California.  Japan plays a highly important role in terms of overall contribution to Georgia’s economy.  With so many business opportunities available, knowing Japanese language and culture is worthwhile, and can be beneficial on transcripts, job resumes, as well as the long-lasting effect on your child’s future in general.

Students who have learned Japanese are not only strong in the business world, but also in education (teaching English to Japanese students in Japan/teaching Japanese), translating and interpreting, engineering, and other careers.