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Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

today I talked to a student about a class she likes.
She is in a Nihonga class and she said she likes it because she is Japanese. Not all of my students like painting.
Have you had a conversation like this before?
My girlfriend said Japan is an insular country. I am not out in the sticks, but in the capital.

unchi pants · Joined: 20 Dec 2003 Posts: 64

The closest I ever got to this kind of conversation was when discussing beds vs. futons. When I asked one student why he chose to sleep on a futon (thinking more in terms of space, convenience, confort etc.), he replied "Because I am Japanese".

I think though, this may have been a case similar to the gaijin "get out of jail free card" ... The "Nihonjin get out of jail free" card. He simply couldn't be bothered expressing an opinion and this was an easy way out.

april · Joined: 07 May 2003 Posts: 83 Location: Australia

I think laziness is definitely one reason for answers like that. Or it could be a polite was of saying "Stop asking me stupid questions!!!"

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

well that is her problem. It was a part of her speaking test and I gave the students the questions far in advance and one of the questions was, "why do you like this class?" So they knew it was one of the questions I was going to ask. They just needed an answer.

At my school we have a free study class once a week on Friday, and students get to choose from over 80 courses. So, for part of the test I want students to tell me about this kind of class.
I prefer asking about this because there is some variety: two students learn shodo, one studies Meiji leterature, another learns painting, etc.

I have heard "because I am Japanese" before and never understood what that was about.