If I go to Japan, or any East Asian country, how long would it take me to learn the language?
479784
My personal experience:\nI went to Japan knowing the bare basics - greetings, and things related to my current state of being, such as "I`m hungry" "I`m thirsty" etc. I was in an environment where I had the option of speaking Japanese or not speaking at all. There was no English to fall back on.\n\nWithin a month, I could stumble through conversation (With hand movements and drawings) enough to make friends. Two months, and I could sort of manage to understand most of what was going on around me without too much difficulty. Three months and I was able to call and talk to my friends over the phone (basic conversation without any expression/drawing help.)\nEverything from then on was just slowly improving and polishing what I knew. I would say true fluency in *speaking* took around 8 months? Although by around 5 months or so, I could make myself look fluent. (You know, when you understand enough of the conversation to understand what they mean without *really* understanding the words?) After close to a year, I was able to fool anyone I spoke to into thinking that I had been born in Japan. (ie, no accent, no mistakes, etc.)\nWritten language took a bit longer. I could read quite well after about a year, and I considered myself fluent after around a year and a half. It`s hard to learn a written language if you don`t know what the words you are reading mean, so I didn`t read much until after I was pretty much speaking fluently. \n\nMind you though, I was in Japan, in a situation without the option of English interaction available to me. I was also 17 when I came to Japan - as you age it takes longer to pick up new languages. If you go to Japan to teach English or with a school program, your actual exposure to Japanese will be drastically less. And if you have the option to fall back on a language that is easier for you, 9 times out of 10, you probably will. Make sure you NEED to speak the language to survive. It`s the best way.
1156212
If you are already over in Japan than there are many places where you can find a job.  Just do a job search "Teaching English in Japan"\n\n  However, I caution your attitude towards teaching.  Many places exist in Japan for people to converse and 'teach' conversation.  Many places will unqualified teachers and no curriculum or even lesson plans!\n\n  This is part of the problem, and why Japanese have a hard time with English.   I would encourage you to at least take some practical training in EFL teaching before entering the profession.  \n\nWe need good teachers, not people looking to make a few bucks on the side.
588563
They offer this monbusho scholarship program in Japan for foreign students (grad and undergrad), wherein you will undergo intensive language training for 6 months. Inquire at the Japanese counsulate.\n\nI studied for 4 years in a non-english speaking country. I spent the first 2 years learning the language. It was tough. When I did my comprehensive exams, I spent half of the time reviewing (and understanding) the questions!
1070537
yes...surely can. I can speak in English, Malay, Japanese, Arabic and French fluently...It's a matter of practice and perseverence (though I nearly give up studying Japanese...the kanjis are kiliing me)
67304
Being that in Japan you can be paid $50 on up per hour to teach english, with absolutely no ability to speak Japanese.  Something that valuable suggests exposure to language is a key step to learning or improving.   In Spain I learned quite a bit of Spanish students students that wanted to practice their english by speaking to me.  They get feedback and learn pronunciation first hand. Conjugation is important. If you want to speak another language to somebody then you will have to know your past, present, future tenses, combined with singular, plural or  we us they you are almost always used in any conversation so they are also important.  If you are already fluent in english try using spell/grammar checkers that comes with whatever word processor you use.  You learn from your errors that are found, and from the suggested corrections to these errors.
83590
Take a japanese class.
616740
getting fluent requires couple of years of classes, plus at least couple of months in the country.\nassuming you do nothing else but work on your language
859424
It depends on how dedicated you are. Arabic is hard for English speakers because some of the alphabet sounds are not used in English and there's reading and writing. I say about 4 years is good if you constantly practice and emmerse yourself in an arabic-speaking country.
702040
Do you just want to speak and understand Japanese, or do you want to read and write Japanese as well? \n\nReading and writing Japanese can take about three years and is very hard since it's unrelated to any other language and since it uses pictograms instead of a plain alphabet. You probably won't be able to learn it alone. You should visit your Japanese Cultural Center or Japanese Embassy. \n\nIf you just want to speak and understand it and you want to work on your own, then the very best source you can find is Hugo's Japanese In Three Months (http://www.amazon.com/Hugo-Language-Course-Japanese-Cassettes/dp/0789435845/sr=8-1/qid=1163238970/ref=sr_1_1/103-2517153-8535065?ie=UTF8&s=books). Listening to the tapes and reading the book carefully about an hour a day, you will know the basics very well after three months. If you work for two or three hours a day, you could be done in six or seven weeks. The Hugo Method helped me learn basic French two years ago, and this year I'm going to use it as an introduction to German. I'd put in a good word for it for anybody. It's the best.
280468
Unless you are extraordinarily good at learning languages quickly, there is no way you will be able to learn French in 2 months.  At most you'll be able to learn some conversational phrases.  It's cheaper just to buy book that translates English to french and talk to the locals.  You'll probably learn faster that way too.
396876
I've been learning Japanese for two years now and have a Jpanaese girlfriend and I still can't string a sentence together.  It's hard but not impossible, but unless your really good at learning languages I'd go for Spanish, which is a beautiful language anyway.
656377
It really varies quite a bit, depending on your current level of education, where you want to teach, and what you want to teach.  Some speciality areas require a masters.  Total time can range from 4 years (probably minimum) to 7 years.  If you want to teach ESL in Korea or Japan there are situations where you can get a job with just a BA, but most teaching jobs require more.  YOu may be able to get a job teachign in some countries such as China or the Czech Republic without a degree.  In Canada and the US you probably need at least two degrees for most situations - an arts or science degree (B.A. or B.Sc.) and a teaching degree (B.ED. or M.Ed.)
688048
Your easiest entre to Japan would be to take an opportunity teaching English.  (Perhaps your breadth of language skills would allow you to teach other languages as well, but English is still in highest demand).  Check into some of the websites below.
253849
It really depends how you are learning it.\nIf you are just having one two-hour lesson a week then it's going to take a very long time to get anywhere near conversationally fluent in that language. You'll pick up the basics in a year or two this way, but only the basics.\nHowever, if you are emersed in that language, by going to a full time language school, or living in a country where that language is spoken, you should get a good grasp of the language in a year, and be pretty well fluent within 3 to 5 years.
33293
Usualy learning a foreign language that belongs to a linguistic group completely different from the languages you already learned before , takes at least 6-8 month if living in the society talking that language ( in this example english ) and having mass media in that language ,and will take much more , approximately twice as long , that's mean 1 year to 18 months if living in a society talking another language than the learning one or living in your homeland . \n    As less you talk another language than the learning one , as soon will you be able to learn the new language .
346967
Actually, yes, especially if it's Japan.  You will never really understand any culture unless you experience it firsthand.  The first time I went to Japan to study, it was almost a culture shock, even after studying about it so much in the states.\n\nBut believe me, you'll be going back to Japan even after you're done studying.  I've been going back every summer for the past 5 years!\n\nYou won't regret it.
973024
The average adult knows anywhere from 40-50,000 words. I doubt anyone could learn to speak a foreign language better than a native without having lived there. You can't grasp all the nuances of a language without being immersed in their culture.