Filipino caregivers, nurses to face language hurdles in Japan

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nandakandamanda at 05:21 PM JST - 20th December

Despite the arguments about whether Japanese should keep Kanji or not (I think modern Korean Hangul is so much poorer and insular without the Kanji) the real problem buried in the article is the cynical use of Philippines/Filipino nurses and caregivers for four years on low pay. Not the initial Japanese language test, but rather the use of the Nat Qual test after four years.

Those who fail the National Qualifications after four years can be sent back and a new lot can be brought in. Year after year. A rolling carpet of cheap caregivers, with few managing to pass the 4th yr Nat Qual. It's not in Japan's interest to have them pass the test and become fully-paid staff, IMHO.
Starviking at 05:31 PM JST - 20th December

@moonbeams

JLPT 2 is basic kanji. 12 year olds can sit that test.

I think you're taking my comment out of context. I'm sure 12 year olds can sit the test - but can they pass it?

It still doesn't take away from the fact that the JLPT 2 is a very advanced test for a foreigner and a challenging test for many natives.

JLPT 3 and a comprehensive course on Medical Japanese is what is needed.

As it stands a lot of Filipinos are going to find they've wasted 4 years in Japan and are going to go elsewhere carrying a deep dislike of Japan.
Betzee at 11:38 PM JST - 20th December

The Philippines, where educational instruction is in English, has sent graduates of its nursing programs all over the world. Japanese is certainly not the first foreign language in which they've been forced to navigate. I'm sure there are iPod-sized on the spot translating programs one can utilize.

The bigger problem confronting countries which use Chinese characters is that natives increasingly rely on computers for word processing. Few can actually write the traditional character for salt, 鹽, one of my all time faves BTW, or even its simplified incarnation: 盐. (It sounds like yan, but minus a tone mark it could be tobacco or swallow as in bird.) Governments are concerned that too many people would have difficulty putting pen to paper should the circumstances require.
Betzee at 02:00 AM JST - 21st December

I was thinking in terms of carrying out the job responsibilities of a nurse, not passing a test. There were many posts here implying Filipinas are asking for special treatment. (I mean the outrage since they should be grateful for the opportunity to work in Japan given their employment prospects at home!)

The flip side of the coin received less attention, however. Japan obviously does not have enough citizens interested in this work to meet the demand, which will only increase with an aging population. Hence this has forced the Japanese to recruit internationally to fill the vacancies. As a result, they may have to accommodate the fact Filipinas (and I assume they are all female since their male classmates would go to Saudi Arabia where the nursing shortage is even more dire) are schooled in English.

If they don't accommodate them, by saying offering the exam in English, they are going to get nurses of the lowest caliber. Any professional worth her salt would take a job in an English-speaking country (the USA also recruits nurses from the Philippines) to avoid having to learn another language just to ply the trade.
nandakandamanda at 12:50 PM JST - 21st December

Betzee, yes, there are three problems. One, the original language test. Two, the work itself, and three, the Nat exams after four years.

PS We are talking about Japanese language, which is slightly different again from your Chinese examples of 11:38 pm above. My detailed reply showing the Japanese versions of your Kanji got removed. :8(.....
sydenham at 06:24 PM JST - 21st December

wow, guess nobody reads. so, i'll repeat:

there aren't enough Japanese nurses to do the job at present, and the shortage is growing as the population ages. This is the main reason why Japan signed onto this deal in the first place. So somehow, sometime, an accomodation is going to have to be made

-sydenham-12/19
LostinNagoya at 07:07 PM JST - 21st December

Moonbeans: ¨Kanji is a very practical system. It just takes more time to learn than other systems. Years. But it is a damn good system.¨

Well, I did not understand your point. It can not be a practical system if it takes longer to master it in comparison to other kinds of writing.

¨You're asking for an overhaul of the entire Japanese language. How do you even propose to "fix" the written language? Strings of hiragana? Replacing all kanji with katakana.. actually, you can't.¨

Actually, we can. There was a research carried by the Ministry of Culture some years ago proposing the gradual replacement of kanjis by katakana. Their proposal was to replace 20-plus strokes kanjis in five years. Then the 15-plus, another 5 years and so on...this research was proposed after China implied that it could take Japan to WTO for royalties over kanjis (believe me, it was on every newspaper) - it sounded like a joke, and of course it was not carried out. But it was good enough to make lawmakers to come up with a solution. And..to think that Japanese would not be able to understand reading only in kanas, to me, is the same as calling them ¨dumb¨.
nandakandamanda at 07:12 PM JST - 21st December

LostinN:

Have you ever tried reading Japanese in Katakana? It's a nightmare... At least make it Hiragana.
BlackFlag at 02:21 AM JST - 22nd December

I don't think Aso represents the intelligence of the average person.

Names are different than words. There are many ways to read names. However, besides a few words like 人気　and 一目　that can be understood by context (much in the same way we can tell which "read" we are reading), most words can only be read in one way, the correct way

there are many Kanji that are not just misread but which a large number of people don't know.

Moderator: All readers back on topic please. Posts that do not refer to the Filipino nurses will be removed.
Betzee at 08:08 AM JST - 22nd December

PS We are talking about Japanese language, which is slightly different again from your Chinese examples of 11:38 pm above. My detailed reply showing the Japanese versions of your Kanji got removed.

I saw it, and noted the similar but distinct rendering of "salt." Thanks!

As far as Filipina nurses communicating with Japanese patients, people will have to innovate to cross that bridge. (In Taiwan I've seen Indonesian caregivers tending the elderly so other societies have certainly confronted the problem as well.)

As for the test, I live in California where you can take a driver's test in ten-some languages (owing to the large number of immigrants who hale from all parts of the world). Though I'm sure it doesn't sit well with the "they should learn English" crowd, state govt officials wisely recognized the knowledge is what's important, not the ability to spit it back in English.
Philosophy187 at 08:23 PM JST - 22nd December

In relation to "Filipino caregivers, nurses to face language hurdles in Japan" What HURDLES? Where are these HURDLES? I was in Japan and I did not see any. in relation to Filipino caregivers, nurses to face language hurdles in Japan.
Philosophy187 at 10:28 PM JST - 22nd December

Thank you Grasshopper for proving my point; but what is a language hurdle? Even still?
tokyokitty at 12:20 AM JST - 23rd December

Well, they are better off in another country than here. Just look at how they treat foreigners here(disrimination, etc) and besides even the Filipinos are protesting this JPEPA agreement anyway! Best of luck to them, I hope that when they get here some of them won't runaway!
vettegirl at 02:42 AM JST - 23rd December

Due to the nursing shortage and the aging population, the Japanese are developing robots to give basic care to patients in lieu of importing foreign nurses. These robots understand a few basic spoken commands. Am I to assume these health care robots can pass the Japanese nursing exams?
Athletes at 11:32 AM JST - 23rd December

Vettegirl

It is true that Japan has nursing shortage. Japanese also have a longest life expentancy in the world. Some are over 100yrs. It does not mean Japan needs to accept all of the influx of immigrants. They needed to match the selection criteria of professional nursing regulation. Society needs to protect the vulnerable people. Caring Elderly & disabled is very delicate, demanding & emotional. If someone wants to work as nursing professional in Japan, they have to follow the rules. My main concern is for patients safety & comfort.

For robots questions, Japanese robots can play the musical instruments & soccer. However it is not smart enough to perform the nursing duties. In Canada, one Canadian Chinese has already created Aiko robot who can do basic nursing duties. Such as assisting the movement & feeding the food.

His robot is 75% closer to human. She can speak both Japanese & English. If someone grab her hand, she show her pain & other hand will push away. Actually she is the fantasy girlfriend of the inventor. She will never take sick or maternity leave. She will never whinge or complain about the working conditions. Not even need to pay the salary for her.

If you are interested in this future nurse, Pls refer the website http://www.projectaiko.com. There is a demonstration about her movement & human like behaviours. Nursing shortage is not the end of the world for Japan.