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Vestiapx

My advice is unless it threatens her points base then let her do what she's Interested in.

From what I’ve seen Japanese is a very steep learning curve if starting from scratch to completing it as a LC subject. It has a complex set of writing systems in addition to being a non Indo-European language with nothing in common to French, German, English, Irish etc. I believe in such a scenario it would take up a huge time investment to the detriment of other subjects. Maybe best left as part of third-level or post LC studies. Maybe a year post LC dedicated to its study and then incorporate it with a third level business studies or other course.

Why is she struggling with french? What is it that she finds difficult?

Why would she think Japanese would be a good choice? It's a different alphabet, sounds, looks totally different.

I'm finding it hard to understand the reasoning behind this choice.

I guess I would say go with whatever is easier to pass, if she wants to go to university. If she doesnt, then let her do whatever she wants.

wotzgoingon

French is far easier to learn than Japanese. Especially this late in the game. If she was getting taught it since 1st year then she would have a better grip of it. But as I said this late and a leaving cert subject is madness. Do you have to do a language in her school. Maybe try a different subject if she doesn't like French.

She’s done a lot of research into same and is convinced she would find it easier than the leaving cert French! I thought if She could try out a few lessons as a taster ... she ll know for sure. She hates French ...couldn’t do any harm! Just need to find a good experienced Japanese leaving cert teacher now! Anyone know of any??

Just watched video on School in Ashbourne where the pupils were given the option of doing Japanese for leaving Cert and it was all positive!!

School gives 2 options ... French or German!!

Markus Antonius

What's "same"?

Guffy

Wum.

Japanese is graded as a cat 4 language for english speakers, ie one of the most difficult to learn. Let your daughter take it on as an additional subject if she wants. if she's not planning on college or foreign language is no longer a requirement for same i would hesitate on letting her replace the language she has been learning for the last 5 years. Just do ordinary french and get a pass

Mysterypunter

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118126115#Comment_118126115

No knowledge of Japanese

Tork

Sounds like one of those mad notions that teenagers get TBH. Has she been watching too many Japanese vids on TikTok? If the kid can't manage Leaving Cert French, it doesn't say much for her language chops, does it? Get her some French grinds and stop indulging her. If this thread is for real of course. I have my doubts.

Tork

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118126120#Comment_118126120

True. My cousin learned Japanese but she was planning to move there to work. Even so, she found it quite tough and she has a flair for languages. This thread is a windup though, I'm convinced if it. Brand new poster, only registered a few minutes ago, spinning us a story about a kid who wants to drop an easy European language in favour of a rock hard Asian one. Yeah..WUM.

Markus Antonius

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118126121#Comment_118126121

Wha?

Thread title: "no knowledge of same"

Post #6: "She’s done a lot of research into same"

Are "Same" and "Japanese" one in the same?

Tork

I'm waiting for a link to a language school or course? Perhaps even a Japanese one?

Let's just hope nobody turns Japanese, eh? 😆

https://youtu.be/IWWwM2wwMww

I agree with all the above posters she is a teenager with a notion. Japanese is a hard language to learn with a different alphabet. Tell her to stick to French and put some effort in. Life is not improved by avoiding challenges. If she wants to go to NUIG a pass in a foreign language is a requirement for most courses. A pass in pass French is not difficult to achieve. Explain this and tell her that she’s not giving up French. She can learn Japanese at university where there will be teachers or in her spare time. Tell her about the Jet programme where she can go live in Japan after university.

https://www.ie.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/00_000049.html

Get her some French grinds and maybe a Japanese lesson online as a present in the summer if she puts in a decent effort at her French.

Supercell

OP I married a Chinese lady 11 years ago. She worked as a translator so no problems speaking English. I vowed to learn Chinese so I could speak to her family, it's not fun spending weeks with family and barely speaking a word.

I tried really really hard but it just didn't stick and I was highly highly motivated. My wife tells me that there is a lot of crossover between Japanese and Mandarin but Japanese is hard even for a Mandarin speaker to learn.

Unless your daughter is very good at languages in general she is highly likely to find Japanese extremely tough going and a frustrating experience.

Mysterypunter

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118126126#Comment_118126126

I took it to mean no knowledge of Japanese, if I had a passing interest in European history and decided to pursue it academically, I would have no knowledge of the standard required at exam level, the Kanji is difficult enough, from what I understand, which is very limited, it is composed of characters which when written, resemble the physical appearance of the word being used, for example house is a box, with 2 lines above it, which look like a roof. So I equated it to a language of symbols, and some are easy, but most are not. I think there are 295 kanji, but I’m not certain, however I have a brother who is a fluent Japanese speaker, and who has lived and visited there, and I’ll point him in the direction of this thread, as he is very knowledgeable and thorough in his explanation of this language.

spurious

The LC Japanese course is intended (along with Russian)to be a two year course.

It does not require anything like the level expected for the French or German (or Spanish or Italian) courses which are designed for 5 years of study.

Back in 1978 I would in theory have been interested in doing Russian, and interesting to know now the level required is not quite the same as French etc. Aged 12, I had asked for a Teach Yourself Russian for Christmas, it was the only thing I wanted and I got it and went through at least some of the course, and used a little of my learning aged 18 in Russia. At least the Cyrillic alphabet is extremely straightforward and phonetic and useful for some other Slavic languages, like reading signs in Bulgaria.

Tork

But still, you need to have an aptitude for languages. If this thread is genuine (I see the original post has been deleted) we're looking at a girl who's struggling with French and wants to drop it for the Leaving Cert. If French is a struggle, the omens for learning Japanese aren't good. It's unclear where this kid would take the Japanese classes because they're not offered in the school and the OP mentioned Mayo.