Ok, it's been awhile since I posted a topic in this section of the site, so I'm back with something else. I've always meant this section of the forum to be my little place to share my own mistakes with those who are trying to learn Japanese, so hopefully I can make their lives easier, amongst other things. So I'm going to make every effort to start posting here more.

So, one of the biggest hurdles to those who are trying to learn Japanese...well there are so many, but I think the greatest is mustering the courage to actually speak in Japanese to a native speaker, even though you feel like you may not be able to handle getting into an actual conversation. Let me lay out the scenario that most people envision when thinking about doing this:

You muster up the courage to say something simple, maybe even as simple as just a greeting to a Japanese person, so you can get some practice in. Eventually the conversation gets to a point where you just flat out can't process in your mind anything that they've just said to you...what do you do now?

Well, this situation is pretty likely, actually. Especially for those who haven't actually delved into the spoken language much. It could be because you just don't know the words that they're using, or it could be that your nerves have taken over, and you're actually just not recognizing simple things that you should know. I'll tell you, I've been studying Japanese for about 10 years now, and the latter still happens to me. You see, I've made the mistake of not practicing as much with the spoken language as I should have...which really comes back to bite you later on when you're maybe good at writing/reading kanji, and even understanding spoken Japanese, but you haven't done much with speaking it yourself.

Well I'm here to tell you that the only way to get over this is to throw your fears to the wind, and just do it. I know it's much easier said than done, trust me. I still haven't become one of those "fearless speakers of Japanese" yet. But you have to do it, and do it as often as you can, or else you'll forever be behind in this one area of your studies, which is argueably the most important part. You have to learn to not beat yourself up too much if you stutter, or if you just can't quite make out what the other person is saying, and have to ask them to repeat themselves. I mean...if you're just getting into a casual conversation with someone you probably won't ever see again, who cares? They may have a chuckle at you for a moment, but they'll not likely go and tell all of their friends about the stuttering gaijin who tried to speak to them.

So I guess I'm posting this for myself just as much as I am anyone else who is reading this. Have some courage, and go out and speak some Japanese! It will only be good for you in the end!

Thank you for that well-expressed "gambatte!" There is a Japanese lady living in my Mom's apartment building whom I'm dying to meet because I could try out a little Japanese on her, but I'm terrified of even getting started because I know she'll probably say something I won't understand at all. I can think of things to say much better than I can understand what someone else is saying. But if I can get my mother to introduce me to her, I will definitely at least greet her. I've been practicing likely phrases in Japanese like "Do you have children?" "Where do they live?" "When are you going to Japan?" "I like Japanese cuisine" and "I like Japanese music." I will sound like a three-year-old.

Of course she speaks English and I'm very good at saying "sumimasen, wakarimasen" (btw, my romaji spelling sucks, so sorry if I've spelled things stupidly.)

you'd be surprised though, a lot of older Japanese people living here have been away from their country for so long, a lot of them are really happy when someone knows their language. I remember a woman I helped buy a TV of all things, we had a really nice chat and she was overjoyed that I was so interested in Japan and the language, and the whole time her husband (older, former navy person so it explains the marriage and why she was in the country) stood and looked lost, lol.

So yeah! Don't be afraid, even if your Japanese is elementary I think she'll be happy you even made the effort