Really? My friends used it all the time in Japan. I think it really depends on what kind of people you hang around with.

Well, feel free to ask any more questions at my site! If you want me to mix around the subjects a little, that's fine too.

I can literally remember one occasion I have used it in the last month, and I remember thinking it felt funny coming out of my mouth, as I almost never have a need to say it.

(it was 「私ですか」 as in the conversation I was having with several people I wanted to confirm the question was addressed to me)

I am not sure "what kind" of people use 私 all the time, but it's overuse is commonly associated with foreigners speaking Japanese.

I never said it's overused, I'm just saying it's used. If you hang around with different kinds of people, you'll notice that they have a certain speech pattern. Some speak differently than others and yes, overusing "Watashi" is somewhat of a foreigner thing, but it is DEFINITELY not reserved for the foreigners.

Probably the defining reason why I heard more "Watashi"s being used is because I had a lot of female friends. I mostly hung out with females because I was attending a technical school. (All the guys are nerds and very shy)

I agree women use it more than men. I think making that distinction is key, as using it a lot can sound feminine. Guys would probably want to know that.

i'll note that so further confusion doesn't happen :)

I would like to note that virtually all beginner text books I've seen spam 私は at least in the beginning, so I don't think these examples are much different from what they teach beginners in school.

I was also thinking about it and decided that having 私は a lot helps learners learn when/when not to use the particle は. When you state 私は to start it helps remind you that I am the subject so you don't end up saying things like 犬は好きです when you mean to say 私は犬が好きです。

More advanced learners may have forgotten, but particles are super confusing when you just start out.

Just a thought though.

The idea "Beginners = Romaji-users" is lame and way too old-fashioned. Would you teach English for a beginning Japanese student using kana just because s/he is probably more used to kana than to the alphabet?

Look at the first line of my signature below. If someone writes English like that, can you say he is really studying English? Do you think that person will easily be able to switch to the real thing one day all of a sudden?

You hung out with the kind that change their speech when talking to foreigners. That's all. I'm amazed you didn't know that when you are already teaching Japanese.

Try answering the more difficult questions on JF and we will see how much you really know and your student prospects can feel assured.

I don't know that he is a Japanese teacher, just that he helps his friends.

But I agree...there is way too much romaji on that site for me to get into it.

so if you wana leave out watashi its 「犬が好きです。」？