In my experience, there are not many Japanese people who speak English fluently, more specifically where I live. At least generally, not enough to hold long conversations. This is not an expectation I have of Japanese friends, I am after all living IN Japan. It does not surprise me, but it does seem to surprise others around the world when I say that.
I find myself in situations where knowing Japanese would be a huge benefit to me. One such situation was signing up for the internet, because well my boss was not particularly helpful. My trusty and very lovely friend Shawna, came along with her Japanese Language Skills and Google Translate on her phone and signed up for the net with me, well I should say for me. It was difficult and there were times where we all sat staring at each other, knowing a communication breakdown happened, but we couldn't pinpoint where. Not once in that situation did the salesman get annoyed that we were not skilled with Japanese. He didn't roll his eyes, or speak with a tone or show any signs of frustration. He took the situation as it was, I didn't speak Japanese and I needed some service, and so he did all he could to get me connected.
Last night I had my water cut off, (It's a long and boring story), so today I tried over and over to call my boss with no such luck. I gave the water company a call in the hope that someone spoke enough English for me to explain the issue. So I asked if anyone spoke any English and they were polite and asked me to wait, and transferred me to an English speaking staff member. I don't think she was even in the department I needed but she was kind enough to help. So the water was connected at 2pm, as promised (Imagine that), and two men came over to reconnect the water for me. They tried to explain how to pay the bill, which I know how to, but I didn't know he was explaining that because I couldn't understand the Japanese he was using...ohhh. After a little while one of the men began trying all the English words he knew to explain and started listing the months in English and got out the words 'convenient store' and started to make a rectangular shape with his fingers, I assume with the hope I would pick up the meaning of the paper bill. They were both lovely men, and were almost apologetic that they didn't speak English.
People in the street often talk to you and want to either find out where you are from or want to practice their English. My Japanese at this point is pretty low. I have to really listen for vocabulary words, hoping to work out what they are asking me. Sometimes it gets to the point that I just smile and nod, and we have a pleasant conversation, sometimes where I have no idea what we are talking about. Other times, we both know that I have no hope in understanding and they smile politely and say goodbye.
I guess the point is that in Japan, I have never been made to feel less of a person because I do not speak in fluent Japanese. People have always been very patient and kind when I am talking in my slow and broken Japanese. They are more than willing to just wait or use hand signals to get their meaning across. If they ever think the way I have heard many Australians do, 'Learn the language or go home' I am never made to feel that way. I think others may have different experiences, but in general for me, I try hard to fit in and be respectful of the culture and people around me, and so I have always felt welcomed. I think that people are more understanding about just how difficult it is to learn a language as an adult. Whatever the reason, it is very much appreciated.
