Why do I feel this way.. I don't want to feel this way.

[Shinsan]

Alright, So last year I got into Japanese. I was being totally geeky and learning it to read some import. Well.. turns out later on I learned to love Japan. I don't like it for geeky reasons.. I like it for its Culture, It's people, It's places, It's respect. I love everything about Japan, but I don't study much anymore because I feel nerdy learning it. Why is that...? I want to study more because I want to become a ESL teacher in Japan. Help?

[Derfel]

I love everything about Japan, but I don't study much anymore because I feel nerdy learning it.

Thats only an excuse.
If you need to make such excuses, don't study it.

[Shinsan]

Hey, I mean thank god I started learning about Japan and everything, I fell in love with it and am committed to it. I just love Japanese, <3 but half of the time I feel like a geek or something for learning it, but I love in for Non-Geeky purposes. I dunno.. I DID study tonight though.. Help!

[Derfel]

Not to sound too negative but this isn't a serious issue that needs the help of others.
If you want to learn Japanese study it. If you don't want to study it you obviously don't want to learn it enough.

[orochi]

I agree. "I feel nerdy, so I don't study" just sounds like an excuse for being lazy.
If you want to learn, learn.

[magevampjoe]

Big deal. You feel nerdy. The kids I know who don't want to study anything because it makes them nerds end up on the bins. (trash collection). Don't care what other people think about you. You won't know them in a couple of years.

Also, being in ESL makes you nerdy, if you follow the mentality that you are using. Who cares? So you are a nerd? It is just groups that people set. Oh, he is a goth/chav/emo/skater/geek. I listen to gothic music, skate, play guitar, program computer software etc. I'm a geek? Yep, geek an proud. I'm gonna make something of my life, regardless as to the mentality that other people have. I am me.

Also, how is learning a foreign language a geeky thing? That makes no sense. You might actually be able to understand more people in the world.

Follow your feeling. If you are scared of being a 'geek', stop learning Japanese. If you can overcome that, continue. Don't put half of your effort into it.

Joe

[Mikawa Ossan]

Some of the richest people in the world are nerds.

If you want to study Japanese, who cares if you're a nerd or not? No one who may think you're a nerd is going to live with your life choices for the rest of their lives. Only you do that.

[Derfel]

I have to agree with that. A nerd, no matter how other people view him does not waste his talent, is passionate about the thing he likes, and always excels in something.
I can't think of a real flaw tbh.
Also, if you have to hide and be ashamed of the subject of your amusement, its a direct insult towards it.

[Shinsan]

You all are right, I'm probably not a nerd, I just have a strong passion for a different culture. And lol, the ESL kids in Japan are nerds?

[Elizabeth]

Alright, So last year I got into Japanese. I was being totally geeky and learning it to read some import. Well.. turns out later on I learned to love Japan. I don't like it for geeky reasons..
But it's because you don't know the language, after all, that you can't communicate with like minded Japanese geeks....:p There are definately more intellectually oriented, so-called "nerdier" cultures. Learn those if a love of language is the primary motivation. If not than develop all sides of yourself and settle for a complete array of experiences in Japan. :-)

[Shinsan]

Hey, I love Japan for its culture, its religions, its history, Its people.. Its places.. It's language.. I love it for SO many reasons. Funny thing is, I don't even play video games anymore. I think that import got me to study Japan which got me to fall in love with it.

Anyway, at the end of the day, I love Japan.

Thanks for your help guys.. Lol.

Also, I can read all kana now! I studied kana since last May. Lol. :cool::cool:

[Charles Barkley]

Hey, I love Japan for its culture, its religions, its history, Its people.. Its places.. It's language.. I love it for SO many reasons. Funny thing is, I don't even play video games anymore. I think that import got me to study Japan which got me to fall in love with it.
Anyway, at the end of the day, I love Japan.
Thanks for your help guys.. Lol.
Also, I can read all kana now! I studied kana since last May. Lol. :cool::cool:

The associations you have between studying japanese and 'nerdiness' are similar to the associations with Japan that you have 'fallen in love with.' Both are created and perpetuated by those who probably have not lived in the country and certainly have little insight to give about its culture. You will be relieved to find out when you move to Japan that Japanese will not consider you 'nerdy' for trying to learn their language. But then again, your lover certainly won't be the woman (or man) you think she is.

[Shinsan]

Ah. Good, I thought the Japanese would say things and make fun of me. That's good. But what do you mean that my Lover wont be the woman that I think she is?

[JimmySeal]

I believe Mr. Barkley is saying that the Japan you find over here won't be the Japan you think you love.

[BobbyS]

be a nerd and study. it's only a language/hobby. what else would you rater do? Not have an interest?

[bakaKanadajin]

What is it to be a nerd? Is being intelligent and knowing things nerdy? Or is having no social life and being somewhat of a pariah more akin to nerdyness?

My opinion is that nerds are traditionally those people who care little about the social norms and conventions of real life and prefer to live in the fantasy world created out of their favourite topics/hobbies/interests etc. This is usually closely tied to some kind of juvenille activity like video games, models, toys, etc. The classic Japanese 'otaku' is a good example. Western 'nerds' are moreso engrossed in thier studies but still exhibit the same lack of social skills. As Mikawa Ossan pointed out, nerds can be rich and famous, so it's difficult to label 'nerd' as good or bad.

By comparison, an accomplished academic or someone with a normal life who also happens to have a healthy and well-versed interest in topic X, Y or Z is not a nerd.

So if you don't want to study Japanese because (why I cannot fathom) it's translating into some kind of unhealthy obssession that alienates you from a normal social life, fine. But Japanese language, culture, etc., is a fine field of study and something many normal people enjoy. I can't see why it would be geeky, nerdy, or whatever, unless you had a bunch of idiots for close company telling you this over and over, at which point any non group-accepted topic becomes fair game for ridicule.

Quite honestly anyone who studies a subject, knows a lot about it and enjoys it, and mixes that into an enjoyable lifestyle is someone worth admiring. These are definitely the kinds of people I look up to now.

[BobbyS]

Quite simply, you should not need to feel you need to justify you're studies. If something interests you to a 'nerdy' level, then christ, good. You feel passionate and absorbed about your studies. Just 'cuz you love learning about Japanese stuff doesn't mean you need to stop making friends and doing other things.

I say don't worry about it and it's much better to have a 'nerdy' interest than no idea at all.

[Zirdante]

"I don't want to study because it makes me a nerd" People that say having knowledge is being nerdy, are just too stupid to learn for themselves.

If learning would be nerdy (ie. negative thing) we would still be in the stoneage and never invented the wheel.

I don't know how old you are, but if you are still in school, and your mates make you think that studying makes you a nerd, then you group with the wrong people. You only live once, make the best of it and group with people that have the same interests, rather than with people that make you feel like an outsider if you do what makes you happy.

Its hard enough as it is to learn japanese as a foreigner, and still have to bear the insults of your mates for doing so.

[Derfel]

"I don't want to study because it makes me a nerd" People that say having knowledge is being nerdy, are just too stupid to learn for themselves.
If learning would be nerdy (ie. negative thing) we would still be in the stoneage and never invented the wheel.
I don't know how old you are, but if you are still in school, and your mates make you think that studying makes you a nerd, then you group with the wrong people. You only live once, make the best of it and group with people that have the same interests, rather than with people that make you feel like an outsider if you do what makes you happy.
Its hard enough as it is to learn japanese as a foreigner, and still have to bear the insults of your mates for doing so.

Yeah exactly, dare to say "Die scum!" to annoying people.