Without mincing words, Japan is a technologically advanced country with one of the best educational systems in the world. Since this modernized country has lots of top-rated universities and colleges, it does not come as a surprise that a lot of foreigners often come into the country yearly to study. So, if you have decided to join these foreign students in Japan, you may be bothered about the language barrier as Japanese is the official language of Japan.
Therefore, let’s answer the first question. Can I study in Japan in Japan without knowing Japanese? Yes, you can study in Japan without knowing the Japanese language.
So, if you want to study in Japan and don’t understand Japanese, you should not allow this challenge to stop you from pursuing your dreams.
What options do you have when trying to study in Japan without knowing Japanese?
If you intend to study in Japan without knowing Japanese, your options for finding schools are quite limited to an extent. Therefore, you need to understand some of the basic things you should consider when looking for Japanese schools that can teach you with requiring the Japanese language.
- Find an international school
In Japan, several international schools offer programs that are entirely taken in the English language. Most of these international schools and colleges are found in big cities such as Tokyo, Kyoto, etc. So, as long as you understand the English language, you can travel to Japan to study without much hassle.
However, there is a catch to this. The Japanese government has curriculums that every high school must cover. In many cases, some of these so-called international schools do not cover these curriculums because of the lack of the Japanese language. Hence, they may not award a Japanese diploma or degree for high school students.
Nonetheless, college and university students may not have such a problem. All you need to do is to look for the right university or college that is offering the program you want. If your field is not a common one, you may struggle with getting a university or college that offers it in the English language. Therefore, this can be a major barrier to your dream to study in Japan.
Most foreign university students come to Japan to learn specialized fields such as fashion, tourism, design, and animation. For vocational schools, manga, personal training, animation, design, and other practical fields are the favorites of most foreign students in Japan. Because most foreign students are coming in for these fields, it will be easier for you to find schools that are teaching these courses in the English language.
- Go for exchange programs
You don’t necessarily need to study completely in Japan; you can simply go for an exchange program. This means that you are studying at a university in another country but will have to spend some weeks or months in Japan as a part of your learning process.
Since you are not going to spend an extended period in Japan, you can easily and comfortably live in the country without knowing Japanese. In a few cases, you may have to live with a Japanese family that understands the English language. This will make it easy for you as you can learn about Japan and its people from the family without knowing the Japanese language. Besides, living with a Japanese family can help you learn a few Japanese words and phrases in a relaxed environment.
Is it advisable to study in Japan without knowing Japanese?
As stated above, you can study in Japan without knowing Japanese. However, it is not advisable to do so. This is because there are so many challenges that you will likely come across during your stay in the country. Although this may not affect your study directly, it will limit how much you will enjoy studying in Japan.
Here are the reasons why it is not advisable to study in Japan without knowing Japanese:
- Your communication will be limited
Although the majority of Japanese people in big cities have studied English before, lots of them cannot speak fluently in the language. Therefore, some of them tend to withdraw when you are trying to communicate with them in English.
Whether you want to ask for a direction, inquire about a public place, etc., communicating in English may not be enough, especially if you are not in one of the few big cities in the country. In fact, there are some restaurants that their menus are written in Japanese. Therefore, visiting such a restaurant and tasting some of their delicacies may be difficult for you.
Apart from the problem of communicating with locals, you will also not be able to read books and newspapers written in the Japanese language. This means you may not be up to date with the things that are happening in the country.
- Studying may not be fun for you
To enjoy schooling in Japan or any other country, you have to have fun along with your studies. One of the ways to have fun while studying in Japan is to immerse yourself in the culture of the country. Unfortunately, this will be almost impossible for you if you don’t know Japanese. This is because a lot of the tourist and cultural centers in the country are located outside of the big cities but it will be difficult for you to enjoy visiting these places without understanding some hiragana or katakana.
Conclusion
Can I study in Japan without knowing Japanese? Yes, you can study in Japan without knowing the Japanese language. Several individuals have done it before you and many more will still do it after you. However, your options for schools will be likely limited to international high schools, colleges, and universities that offer some programs in the English language. Also, the available field of study may be limited in some situations.
Nevertheless, it is recommended that you learn some Japanese if you want truly want to enjoy your study in the country. Besides, learning the language will also come in handy when you are trying to communicate with the locals.
