For over a year I taught in Japan, German and Japanese at the same time learned to cope better in a foreign country. I have difficulties with learning a foreign language are connected, that is met from both perspectives. I would therefore like to end my diary give Japan a small toolkit for dealing adequately with foreign tourists. For simplicity, I suppose it was my former Japanese students, but of course what I write here applies to all other citizens of the world.
1) Imagine your scene: on the platform is a Japanese at you and asks with audible accent, but still in reasonably fluent German: "excuse goes, this train to Berlin" It is
course quite possible that your conversation partner has studied Germanistik, for many years lived in Germany and speaks fluent German. But it is equally possible (and which you should expect better), that he has the last five minutes, standing on the platform and looked for a friendly and helpful locals looking out for, until his gaze fell on you . At the same time he has set the question in my mind again and again recited again, now to just nothing to go wrong.
In this case, he expects only a simple answer to the question, that is a resounding "yes" or "No". Nothing more. And certainly he does not expect rates like "Sure, but the IC that holds in Zoo and now the new main railway station is." In response confusion and despair of the tourists are inevitable.
Just something happened to me in Japan. On the simple question "Excuse me, is this the train to Takarazuka?" I poured a friendly Japanese woman with a torrent of words, which I could understand absolutely nothing. It is the old problem: people do not follow simply from the dialogues in the language textbooks.
2) change of location. Our foreign tourist, is armed with his guide, helpless in the middle of Berlin and is looking, say, the Museum Island. The small town plans Guidebooks are not always marked by the greatest accuracy, as anyone who has already tried once to get along with the help of the city map in a foreign city. I've already run it in Miyazaki, a Japanese so why should it fare better in Germany?
"Excuse me, how do I get to the Museum Island?"
That is not to simple yes-no question anymore. This slightly longer answer is required.
following reply, he can not understand:
"Dasisganzeinfach. Gehnsegradausbiszurzwein * nuschelnuschelnuschel ... "
Who you are, you mean? So nice to speak slowly. Gaaaaanz slow. And clearly, without swallowing half the syllables. Mouth while speaking!
following reply, he can not understand:
"You go straight ahead. Two intersection. Then you turn left. Next crossing you turn right. Then you see right Museum Island. "
What language should it be? German, it is not in any case. Rather a sign that the speaker in his infinite narrowness his counterpart considers stupid. is "to give simple directions"
Who in the Nova language course lesson to come, can understand the following answer (and related through gestures supported):
"It's very simple. Go straight to the second intersection. As you turn left and go straight ahead. Then turn left at the next / first right. Then you see the museum island on the right. "
If people speak slowly and clearly, of course. I know I am repeating myself, but it's happened to me sooo many times that Japanese have made a semi-liquid stammered question my hand closed on a perfect command of Japanese and responded accordingly.
third ) There are also situations in which simple language answers simply are not enough. "What dressing You want? "In this situation, I must ask as a native speaker not good enough." What's the matter? "." Cocktail, French, garlic, and tartar sauce. "Usually I get the order by the operator with an unbelievable rate of speech, the ears crazy. I usually choose what's right I understand.
If the Japanese that should have understood randomly, it does not help that much. What about everything in the world "remoulade"? or "garlic"? It is . now do not dig out the dictionary, while the ten people behind him are heard impatiently in the queue There's only one thing: You Meet simply the decision (I would take anything without Knofi), then has all helped.
Finally, a few minor comments.
If the tourist is already the trouble and asks you a question in German, you can respond calmly and German. Although (I know I repeat myself) slowly and clearly, but in German. If he does not answer the first time sees, she can be happy again repeated. Another slower track and, if possible, with simpler formulations. If he still does not understand, you can still escape into English. But please, not before. Treat him but the sense of achievement, German spoken and understood in particular to have!
Also very important: Please do not make the mistake, lack of knowledge of German with a low intelligence quotient equate. The Japanese tourist is not stupid, he only has a different mother tongue. Before you get yourself upset about it: how good for your Japanese, huh? Well, please.
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