How do I get Japanese to quit talking to me in English?

Question

I am currently residing in Tokyo, Japan and I find that no matter how good my English is, I am constantly talked to in English by people. I am originally from America, however I am here to study Japanese so how can I get the message across to Japanese people saying, "Quit using me for English!!!" ???

Answer 1

Since u are American, japanese peoples automatically speak English to you or they might think that u expect them to speak English to you or they might think that ur japanese isn't good or u don't talk japanese at all. Try talkin' to them in Japanese and/or ask them to stop using you for English- speak Japanese. Tell them that u NEED to learn Japanese, NOT english. After all that's what u went there for in the first place. Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Sorry, Zach.

Here is what Japanese think.

A gaijin cannot speak Japanese.
A gaijin has spoken to me.
Therefore, the gaijin spoke English.
And also therefore I must reply in English.

I lived in Japan for 27 years. The only place I could speak Japanese with people was after I moved into a small village in the country. But even that was difficult because the people living there were old and spoke nothing but Tanba-ben. The old woman next door had false teeth which rattled around in and out of her mouth, so even if she had spoken Hyojun-go, I wouldn't have understood. I have no idea if any of them could speak standard Japanese.

Don't worry. You are not alone.

Answer 3

My advice: get out of Tokyo. Seriously. I live up here in Tohoku and even though I don't look Asian at all, no Japanese ever, ever speaks to me in English (unless they know me). Whenever I go to Tokyo, I'm always surprised at the number of people who speak to me in English, and like you I find it annoying that I can never use Japanese with them. There are just too many foreigners in the area around Tokyo-Chiba-Gunma-Saitama Kanagawa.

Answer 4

Hope this helps!
Basically the reason why J-bags use you for Engrish practice is because they really don't see anyone outside of their own people as real humans. They use you for Engrish because they assume that anyone foreign couldn't possibly master their highly complex, evasive language, no way in hell, come on, it's Japanese!
So my advice to you is this:
every time a J-bag speaks to you in broken English, whip out your C O C K and beat them with it until they are forced to plead with you to stop doing so. Also, the site of an American penis will make most J-bags either faint or drool, the latter action done mostly by women and few sorts of the Ni-chome variety.
Hope that helped!

Answer 5

I had that problem too when I was living in Japan, especially with the ones trying to get me to fill out one of their surveys or to sell me something. I would just start speaking to them in French and they would immediately leave me alone. If it was just friendly conversation they wanted I would oblige, the Japanese are very polite people!

Answer 6

actually the Japanese people are very polite and well mannered and are probably speaking to you in english for your benefit, rather than their own.

Have you ever thought of just asking them nicely in their own language that you are trying to learn more japanese and can they help you out.

Seems like you need to learn about the culture as much as the language.

Be patient and polite, it will get you further.

Answer 7

Flop on the ground and start speaking in tounges eveyrtime they speak English. Or Yell BANZAI at them. Or better yet tell them im nice Oxford English that you just lost face and now must perform Hari -Keri.

Answer 8

They are just being polite by assuming that you don't speak their language. Just respond in Japanese and they will get the hint.

Answer 9

get a white T-shirt, some fabric paint (colorful and eye catching.)

write on the front:　日本語　勉強中　(in the middle of studying japanese)

on the back: 日本語で話してください！（please speak in Japanese!)


or, just say, "i'm here to study Japanese, so please speak to me in Japanese for my benefit. thank you"
(nihongo benkyou shini kiteirunode, onegaidesukara watashinotameni nihongode hanashitekudasai. arigatougozaimasu.)

Answer 10

Easy.... The first time someone says anything in English, you say in Japanese, "Nihongo de hanashite kudasai." (which means, please speak to me in Japanese)

Why is this even a problem? Why couldn't you just ask them? They will comply to your request if they can.