I Speak Japanese

I live in Sydney Australia and with a federal election coming up i was wondering about the politics of japan and whether or not it affects everyday interactions and culture?

i thought if there was sufficient relevant information you may like to cover this in a video.

Other than being able to loose your english, what are some other main dark sides in Japan^^

1st!!!

Great vid you guys. A month was a LOOOOOOOOOOOONG wait!

Right on, again, Amigos! Great video and and topic! Thanks for posting!
Urban Japan sure is a noisy place (video background noise)!

Yeah, it is natural that a person loose some of their native language skills when immersed in another culture and language. Being a long time English teacher in Japan, I have, for the benefit of my students, simplified/ slowed down my English vocabulary and speaking style by omitting complicated idioms and slang.
Or when I go back to the USA and met at the airport by friends or family and I start bowing instead of hugging or shaking hands, is always good for some comical comments. As do comments on how simple and slow my English speaking is. Or when I go to a party and people are jabbering on about current affairs, movies or politics and I have no clue what they are discussing, and I stand/sit around silently like a bump-on-a-log. Wow, I used a classic English idiom!!

Any language, especially English, is always changing, so it`s difficult to keep up on the latest new slang words and expressions while in Sushiland. I try to maintain my English language skills by reading lots of English books and Skyping family and friends back home, watching English movies, BBC/CNN news and other English speaking TV shows, also watching English speaking videos, like yours, on the internet really helps.

In my daily walk-abouts around Himeji Castle, I always take notice of foreigners and boldly ask them where they are from and chat them up for a few moments. Practicing my English skills on unsuspecting tourists has become one of my hobbies. And that`s exactly what Japanese English speakers do to foreigners they meet, on the train or anywhere else when they want to practice their English.
“May I practice English with you? My name is (Ichiro). Where are you from?,”, etc.
I`ve met a lot of very interesting foreign folks in HImeji this way.

Developing “dumb-down-English syndrome” is certainly a cultural hazard when living for an extended period of time in Japan. Rubber duckie? Don`t have one of those, should get one I suppose, one that speaks English perhaps? Or maybe a Tickle Me Elmo? Well, at least you both have each other to practice English with, right?

Starbuck In Castle Town

Hey guys,

Ya’ll are weird but i love you!
I was wondering something. I want to go to Japan to get into the music business. I am a vocalist and I’m begining to gain a following on myspace and facebook (slowly but surely); but how would I get over there? The traveling there part is the confusing part (beside reading). I have watched all of the previous videos, execpt one or two I think, and talent was mentioned but….. yeah.

Anyway, If you can get to this question, cool. If you don’t have any idea, oh well. I’m still a follower. ^_^

Luvs you!
KariKari

Hi,
I’m having a lot of fun to watch video here.
You guys are so funny!!
I’m Japanese.And this site helps me to study English,too.
Keep up the great work!!

I’m afraid about that.. I have bad English.

Aaron,Kevin…few days ago I was searching some japanese videos on YouTube and I found your youtube account. I’ve watched all your videos (they are very interesting and I learned a lot while having fun). Then, I found this blog and visited speekit.com. I wanted to try so I joined free, and I can say that you guys have to be so proud of what you’re doing because its excellent! Really, really great job! I actually learned all the words from the airport activity in like 20 minutes. I am sure you will succeed with this project!

Kampai!

Okay guys this one is not lesson related. I was recently in Japan for a month on business. One weekend I was able to make it into Tokyo and go to the Meiji Jingu. It was my first time at the shrine. While there I ran into a student from Germany and his Japanese host family. After only a few hours going through the shrine and taking in the sites, the host family actually offered to put me up the next time I return to Japan. I was quite humbled that they would even offer. I return to Japan in jugatsu and will be there for a total of five weeks. I have at least one weekend planned for going into Tokyo already, but was curious as to what the proper prodical is for staying with a Japanese family. I have always stayed in our accomodations provided by our company. Can you give any tips or suggest any sites that would give advice. I will be coming from Nagoya and they live in Kawasaki City.