Learning foreign languages is a challenge. Especially if the foreign language is accompanied by letters that are not familiar to our daily eyes (besides the alphabet), like Russian, Thai, Arabic, Chinese or Japanese. Seeing the letters alone has twisted the eyes, not to mention mastering grammar, the tone of words per word that can separate meaning, memorize vocabulary, and nuances of language.
In the era of globalization as it is today, mastering a foreign language has become a necessity. Mastery of two or more foreign languages will be our added value. Based on information from Vistawide statistics about the order of 30 languages that at least a few speakers, Mandarin is ranked first with a total of 1 billion speakers. Then there are Hindi, Spanish, English, Arabic, Portuguese, Bengali, Russian, Japanese, and German languages in the 10th place.
Of the top 10, there are at least six languages that have typical letters: Mandarin, Hindi, Bengali, Arabic, Russian, and Japanese. Hindi and Bengali have the same roots from Sanskrit, but in writing, letters have their characteristics. Likewise, Chinese and Japanese letters are both starched but have distinctive distinctions both from the starch format and pronunciation techniques.
I will try to take for example Japanese. Japanese uses four types of letters in everyday writing. The least used ones are derivative starch from China, which amounts to approximately 50,000 starch. Besides, there are hiragana (native Japanese letters) consisting of 46 letters divided into vowels and consonant-vocal mixes. Hiragana is used to write kanji reading techniques and to record native Japanese languages combined with starch.
There are other sayings which number 46 letters, consisting of vowels and consonant-vocal mixtures, useful for recording absorption words from foreign languages. The name of a stranger is written in katakana. The alphabet (Latin letters) that you usually know is also used in Japan, but the number is not too much. They call it Romaji.
The kanji in Japanese does not only have one type of pronunciation, but there can be 2 or more techniques to pronounce it. This is why there is no right method or formula in memorizing Japanese kanji. What must be done is to learn the kanji one by one; all of them can be the pronunciation of the kanji.
There is also one word in Japanese that can be written in 2 types of kanji which are the opposite depending on the meaning and position in the sentence. For example, the word naosu: in the definition of healing, is written in the letter す will and will be written contrary to this 直 す when the meaning is to improve something.
There is also one word in Japanese that can be written in 2 types of kanji which are the opposite depending on the meaning and position in the sentence. For example, the word naosu: in the sense of healing, is written in the letter す will and will be written contrary to this 直 す when the meaning is to improve something.
Writing sentences in Japanese do not use spaces. Readers will know the division of words naturally in a sentence. Point and comma punctuation are used at the end of sentences and between sentences. But the question mark is not commonly used in formal writing because the meaning of the question has been contained in the predicate used in the sentence. The sequence of single sentences in Japanese is subject-object or verb-description.
Although it looks complicated, it turns out that the number of Indonesians learning Japanese reaches 870,000 (data in 2015) to the point where Japanese is the second most studied language after China. This is inseparable from the efforts of Japan to pass through its representatives or so many foundations or friendship associations such as the Japan Foundation to continue to introduce Japanese through many activities. Funny when the majority of people learn foreign language is because they want to understand games better, such as Mobile Legend and J-RPG where they must understand the story better. Not just console games for leisure, but some people also learn language so they can learn about how to play online casino or e-sports betting. Nowadays a tournament of Counter Strike have open betting also, it’s already world wide competition and one of the provider is Agen Sbobet that facilitate their member to bet in easy and secure process.
Funding assistance for universities conducting Japanese studies, organizing Japanese language courses, student expeditions to study languages in Japan with scholarships is concrete examples of Japanese efforts in language programs. They also have the Nihongo Partners program from 2014 until 2020, namely expeditions of teaching staff both volunteers and teachers to schools in ASEAN countries belonging to Indonesia which have Japanese language studies.
In 2018 to coincide with the fifth year of the program, 150 people will be delivered and distributed throughout Indonesia through cooperation with the Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture.
In contrast, there are also Indonesian language fans in Japan, although there are not yet a number of Japanese language students in Indonesia. Some universities in Japan have Indonesian language programs both as general subjects and elective courses. The Tokyo University of Foreign Studies teaches Indonesian as the second foreign language after English. Other well-known universities such as Chuo University, Kanda University, Osaka University, and some others also conducted studies on Indonesia and Indonesian.
The Tokyo University of Foreign Studies teaches Indonesian as the second foreign language after English. Other well-known universities such as Chuo University, Kanda University, Osaka University, and some others also conducted studies on Indonesia and Indonesian.
Indeed, among the keys to mastery of language to advanced level is the opportunity to practice directly in the country of origin of the language. The nuances and style of language and the ‘compulsion’ to communicate with the local language will forge a person’s language skills for the better.
One of my language teachers once said, “if you can already have dreams in a foreign language, then you already know the language very well.”
Language is very urgent as a bridge to get to know each other between two countries and two cultures. All diplomates fully realize this in many countries and implemented in many programs. Like a quote that “Learning a language has no cognitive and academic benefits, it also supports a greater sense of openness and appreciation for other cultures” (Tochon, 2009).
Learning languages does not only recognize grammar and improve vocabulary only but increasing one’s sensitivity will be a nuance of language that is matched with local habits. By learning the language, it will directly or indirectly study historical patterns and society.
The mastery of all these matters will further open the horizons of the country from many sides: political, economic, social, and other issues. Knowledge of the local language will facilitate communication and foster conducive interpersonal relationships.