Breaking the Language Barrier

By: Joe Porter, Douglas College, winner of the Fall 2023 BC Study Abroad: Stories from Abroad Scholarship

Study Abroad Destination: Japan

To say my arrival in Japan last September was a culture shock would be an understatement, but with that it has also been a breath of fresh air. Instead of the usual beer and fireworks, my New Years in Japan consisted of joining the crowds of nearly 100 million nationwide in Hatsumode, the New Years tradition of visiting a shrine to pray for good fortune in the coming year. I have been ushered through a multitude of towering temples, finely crafted gardens, and phenomenal food. Particularly uplifting for me was seeing members of the community out picking odd leaves off the street to keep it as clean as a whistle. The last five months have seen me adjusting to many aspects of life here but certainly the most interesting, though at times arduous, cultural hurdle has been navigating the language barrier.

I began learning Japanese on the cusp of Covid, mostly due to boredom and a desperate desire to procrastinate my homework. With my interest in the writing and culture on a slow boil, I continued learning throughout high school and college. I never would have expected to make it here to Japan, but suddenly the language challenge has been turned up to eleven. At school I am surrounded by people on all ends of the Japanese proficiency spectrum and have ample opportunity to practice. I was lucky to have a solid enough grasp on the language to navigate day to day life, but I still had a long way to go. Nevertheless, I was sent headfirst into the deep end as all my classes are taught exclusively in Japanese. I can’t deny the benefits of immersion for my comprehension and improvement but there is sometimes a bubbling frustration when certain questions and explanations don’t make it through the barrier.

A surprising majority of my friends here are English speakers, many coming from across Europe and Mexico, but I was fortunate enough to find my way into a school orchestra here where there is a gaping void of English proficiency. Navigating conversations in this club was a challenge I approached valiantly however in a social setting I especially started to feel the effects of the language barrier. Communicating in an unfamiliar language is already plenty a challenge, but with my limited understanding I am oblivious to many jokes, instructions, and my conversations are often very practical. Many times I am left feeling more like a translation robot than a human being which siphoned out many portions of my personality. Despite these struggles I have had wonderful opportunities to go out for food and perform music with those same people, acting as a spectacular way of bringing people of many cultures together.

I have a feeling I am going to appreciate this place even more when I am gone, and I am trying to eat, see, and do as much as I can in my last few weeks before I return. I certainly can’t recommend the country enough.

Thanks for reading,

Joe