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When I moved to Japan, I picked up
Japanese Sign Language (JSL) much quicker than Japanese. I
believe it's because I didn't have to worry about pronunciation.
I only had to remember hand shapes and movements. Within a
short period of time I was able to communicate in Japanese
Sign Language, while my Japanese was staggering along. Eventually,
I noticed how my JSL helped improve my Japanese by being a
mnemonic device for remembering new Japanese words.
After meeting and making many Deaf friends,
they expressed interest in learning ASL. I started creating
lesson plans and videos. A year later, I opened my first class.
Q7. Is it a big challenge for you
to work at Japanese company? Tell me about it.
It's a big challenge to work at any company!
Every company has it's own culture, but Japanese companies
are so different from American companies. I still can't believe
that people work 12-14 hours a day with no overtime!
Another challenge was the language barrier.
I would attend meetings and try/pretend to understand what
everyone was talking about. You know, looking serious when
everyone had a serious face or laughing when people started
laughing. However, I was lucky to work with someone who interpreted
everything for me.
As for my own school, the challenge is having
different students with different needs. Some of my students
want to learn ASL, while others want to focus more on English.
I must change my lesson plans based on this.
Q8. Any funny/horrible stories while
you work?
I was only living in Japan for 6 months,
when one day the president invited me out to a Jazz show.
He also invited his business associates. I was the youngest
and only non-Japanese person at the table. Of course, my co-worker
interpreted the conversation.
They started talking about the North and
South poles and how the earth's magnetic force can have an
affect on your body and animals. Someone said, "That's
why penguins need to live near the the poles because their
body is attuned to the magnetism."
However, being a smart ass New Yorker (without
even realizing it) I said, "No they don't, Penguins live
in the Bronx Zoo". I didn't realize it at first, but
my co-worker didn't want to interpret what I said. However,
she was forced to, because everyone heard me speak in English
and was waiting for the interpretation. She relayed the message
and then there was silence. After a moment, they continued
on with their conversation. I realized, "Oh crap, that
wasn't good."
Q9. Do you have any advice for foreigners
to get a job at a Japanese company?
1. Japanese people aren't very sarcastic,
so try to keep wise comments to a minimum.
2. Get used to hearing and saying, "Otsukaresamadeshita"
and "あの。。。あの。。。難しいですね。"
3. Keep a good attitude and listen for what
is not being said.
Q10. What are your goals for future?
Compared to the US and Europe, Asia is behind
on it's social services. Many Asians don't realize how beautiful
Sign Language is. They view Sign Language as an inferior language
that is reserved for the disabled.
On the contrary, Sign Language is a Language.
Anyone can learn it.
"American Sign Language is a natural
language as proved to the satisfaction of the linguistic community
by William Stokoe, and contains phonology, morphology, semantics,
syntax and pragmatics just like spoken languages. It is a
manual language or visual language, meaning that the information
is expressed not with combinations of sounds but with combinations
of hand shapes, palm orientations, movements of the hands,
arms and body, and facial expressions."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_sign_language
(English only)
http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/アメリカ手話 (Japanese)
Here are a few examples of how useful
Sign Language is:
1. Talking with your friends in a Loud Club/bar.
2. The ability to communicate through glass (Bus, Train, Car,
Store etc...)
3. The ability to communicate long distances without yelling.
4. The ability to communicate underwater (snorkeling/scuba
diving)
5. Have secret conversations.
My goal is to produce books, films and hold
presentations to show how cool Sign Language is all across
Asia.
Q11. What is your favorite Japanese
proverb?
第六感 (だいろっかん)
Q12. Where can we find you? (Where
do you go often?)
Slices, Cafe Absinthe, Starbucks, Balabushka,
and Doutonburi area.
Q13. Message to WhyNot!? users!
Thanks for reading and see you at the WhyNotJapan
parties.
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