Comments by "Gordon Graham" (@gordonbgraham) on "Things Foreigners Should NEVER Do - Japanese Interview" video.

@marw9541 No, "loud" is the correct word. Countless times I've gotten on a train with foreigners talking in loud voices across aisles etc...not assertively...loudly
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@marw9541 That's true. You hit the crux of the matter. Foreigners stand out more so bad behaviour is more noticeable among them.
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Japanese loathe people being loud on trains...regardless of nationality
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Don't go in certain neighborhoods in America, Canada, Mexico...etc.
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You keep to the left if you stand. The right hand side is for people in a hurry who want to proceed up the escalator faster.
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Don't tell Japanese people they should be more like you
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@OfTheGaps I've lived in Japan since 1988 and haven't found that to be true. I've lived in the countryside (Chichibu), Hokkaido (Kushiro) Kyushu (Tsuetate...small onsen town) and Tokyo. Everywhere I've been, I've found that most Japanese are relieved when I speak Japanese. The only issue I've had is when my Japanese was in its beginner stage. When I said something to a clerk, that clerk would spew out a long flow of Japanese...none of which I understood.
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@OfTheGaps I wonder why that is
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@fernandovillalpandogueich5297 It's not so much that the education is poor. It's more like the fact that most Japanese don't feel the need to acquire English. It's foisted on them. It's like French in Canada. I grew up in Ontario, Canada, where we are made to learn French from grade 1, elementary school. I can count on one hand the number of English speaking Canadians I know who can speak French. I know countless Japanese who are fluent in English.
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@xThefoRS No real need nor opportunity for most of them to speak English (for those in places like the Philippines, English is seen as a necessity to escape poverty). The same goes for Canadians in English speaking Canada. We take French from elementary school. I can count on one finger the number of English speaking Canadians I know who can speak French...one. I know plenty more Japanese high school kids who are fluent in English. You can employ the most effective pedagogy there is and it wouldn't matter a lick if students have little or no interest in the subject.
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@leafbreeze6640 I've taught at a high school of 1500 students in Saitama, Japan for more than 30 years. I also have 5 kids who are either in or have been through the public school system in Japan. The average Japanese student's English in Japan is far better than the average English-speaking Canadian's French. In both countries the motivation to learn a 2nd language is relatively the same...little to none. Pedagogy isn't the issue...a lack of necessity on the student's part is the biggest issue. In poor countries like the Philippines, English is seen as a necessity to escape poverty. Comparative numbers in testing such as TOIC or TOFEL are not indicative of true averages because those tests are taken by students with a greater disparity in levels in Japan, as kids are made to take such tests, while in places like the Philippines only diligent students whose parents can afford the fees take such tests, so you get skewed numbers comparatively. Higher end English students in Japan are most certainly fluent. Not only are they fluent but they are extremely thoughtful, articulate and logical in their writing abilities. That said, MOST Japanese don't care a lick about English, because they don't require it in their daily lives and they won't require it in their future. A lack of motivation and interest is the real issue. Not pedagogy. With the plethora of sources on the Internet, there's no excuse for anyone not to become fluent...unless that person has no interest whatsoever, which is primarily the case in Japan. Those with interest in English become both fluent and literate, like Takashii, the guy who runs this channel. This has been my observation of roughly 500 students a year for more than 30 years.
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@fernandovillalpandogueich5297 It’s Japan. The language here is Japanese. I don’t recall any courses being held in Japanese when I was in university in Canada. Also, with the plethora of translation software now available there's no reason for you not to be able to exchange ideas in academia.
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@fernandovillalpandogueich5297 All English material can be translated via software. The bottom line is most Japanese don't feel the need to study English, just as in English speaking Canada most don't feel the need to learn French, therefore most English speaking Canadians can't speak more than a few phrases in French despite having had to learn it from Elementary school through to and including high school. PS. There are countless research findings published in Japanese. You're doing your Masters at a Japanese university. Are the lectures held in English or Japanese? Also, why are you doing your Masters in Japan? Aren’t universities in Mexico up to global standards? You’re implying that Japan is not up to global standards, yet you chose to do your Masters in Japan and not Mexico where people’s English is superior. Why? You couldn’t get into a Mexican graduate program?
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@wayneasera5734 It's not OK when Japanese people do it. They're considered drunken losers for the most part.
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In the service industry, English service is widely available in Japan. People outside of the service industry should not be expected to understand English. Hotels, family restaurants etc. provide service in English throughout Japan. If you were to venture into a smaller family run restaurant, then the likelihood of getting service in English is far less, as should be expected. The same goes for mom and pop stores etc.
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Most places in the service industry offer service in English in Japan, including hotels, family restaurants, amusement parks etc. Random people on the street shouldn't be expected to know English. It's Japan
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