is japanese language worth learning or should i learn Mandarin

[warakawa]

is japanese worth learning give that japanese economy is in recession, and in 40 years time, it is predicted that japanese economy will not be in the top ten (even indonesia economy will be larger), will china will be the largest in the world.

chinese economy will take over japanese economy as the world's second in 2010.

is there really a point in learning japanese for one's career development?

[ozkai]

Good post

Living in a tourist town in Australia during the 80's and learning Japanese almost guaranteed one a job within the tourism industry.

Those days for Japanese toursim was very healthy.

Of course now days we have loads of locals who can speak Japanese and who are out of jobs.

Japanese tourism where I am is nothing near what it used to be. It really is a "come and go" and "up and down" situation for local businesses.

Of course we also have laocal Japanese people who started their tour companies here, we are all in the same depressed boat.

The healthy days of Japanese oturism in OZ has died

[Harumaki]

I was thinking the same thing 3 years ago buddy. But I finally chose Japanese because, no offence, I dont like the sound the of Chinese and I like Japanese women, Japanese food and culture much much more.

Thats why I chose Japanese instead of Arabian or Chinese :P

[ozkai]

Originally Posted by Harumaki

I was thinking the same thing 3 years ago buddy. But I finally chose Japanese because, no offence, I dont like the sound the of Chinese and I like Japanese women, Japanese food and culture much much more.

Thats why I chose Japanese instead of Arabian or Chinese :P

Did the language/woman thing work?

[warakawa]

yeah i prefer the sound of japanese too, it's much easier to pronounce. chinese girls and japanese girls all look the same to me physically so i dont really care.

i just want to make the right decision, not for girls or for vocal atheistic, but for maximizing my career path in the next 50 years.

[noodle]

Originally Posted by warakawa

yeah i prefer the sound of japanese too, it's much easier to pronounce. chinese girls and japanese girls all look the same to me physically so i dont really care.

i just want to make the right decision, not for girls or for vocal atheistic, but for maximizing my career path in the next 50 years.

I'm glad you're not listening to pathetic reasoning like sound and pretty girls!

This question is however, pretty difficult to answer... Even if the Chinese Economy is growing you have to remember that there are a lot of Chinese people in the world. And many of the newer generations speak very decent English as well. So if you're bringing English and Mandarin to the table, it won't be enough. You gotta think about what will set you apart from the millions of Chinese that speak English and Mandarin perfectly!

[warakawa]

i see, i will unlike be able to speak mandarin to a native status. competition is ferocious in china, but not many foreigners can speak mandarin right?

what about in japan, can how many younger japanese generation can speak fluent english?

[noodle]

Of all the Japanese people I've helped here in Paris, only a handful speak good English. I don't know if this is because most of them have been concentrating on their French or if that's how it is in Japan. It's best to ask someone that lives in Japan and has more contact with the Japanese.

As for foreigners speaking Mandarin, I'd assume there aren't that many out there. But what's the difference between a Chinese person speaking Mandarin and English, or a foreigner speaking English and Mandarin?

[Mortry]

Is it an option for you to learn both? xD
I'd say Japanese, although it has nothing to do with economic reasons.

[MMM]

Originally Posted by warakawa

is japanese worth learning give that japanese economy is in recession, and in 40 years time, it is predicted that japanese economy will not be in the top ten (even indonesia economy will be larger), will china will be the largest in the world.

chinese economy will take over japanese economy as the world's second in 2010.

is there really a point in learning japanese for one's career development?

I went to school with 100 guys that were learning Japanese for economical reasons.

At graduation none of those guys had made it more than a year and a half into their Japanese studies, and all had dropped out.

The only people standing with me were those that had a genuine interest in Japan, living there, the language and the culture.

So if your only interest is "career development" by all means, start learning Mandarin. I hear it's a cake-walk.