In my opinion, spoken/written languages are just like programming languages and frameworks: They can be learned on the job.
You can still succeed in Silicon Valley but your prospects will be limited, well, your potential employers will be the ones that don't see language as a problem as long as you write good code and demonstrates the ability to gain skills on the job.
The prospects you lost (assuming if your English is really really poor) are the ones that expect you to write and speak a whole lot (like writing contracts, negotiating with customers, responding to customer issues), which by the way are not what you want to end up with doing the whole day as a coder.
Don't stay with this mindset about your English skills. I have taken ESL classes but they didn't improve my English dramatically. I am now because I read in my spare time and collaborate with people on the job.
My former boss suggested taking that at one time and I told him: Just talk to me more.
I decided to listen to your story.
I would like to extend the programming skills in Japan.
I think it is difficult for non-native speakers to master English conversation.
By spending time studying English conversation, I felt that I should not reduce programming study time.
A Mechanical Engineer who migrated to the village of IT but loves to roam into the forests of life to explore it. Co-founder of ReachExt K.K. and EJable.com
Location
Tokyo, Japan
Education
M.B.M. Engineering College
Work
Co-Founder and Managing Director at ReachExt K.K. and EmploymentJapan.com
In my opinion, spoken/written languages are just like programming languages and frameworks: They can be learned on the job.
You can still succeed in Silicon Valley but your prospects will be limited, well, your potential employers will be the ones that don't see language as a problem as long as you write good code and demonstrates the ability to gain skills on the job.
The prospects you lost (assuming if your English is really really poor) are the ones that expect you to write and speak a whole lot (like writing contracts, negotiating with customers, responding to customer issues), which by the way are not what you want to end up with doing the whole day as a coder.
Don't stay with this mindset about your English skills. I have taken ESL classes but they didn't improve my English dramatically. I am now because I read in my spare time and collaborate with people on the job.
My former boss suggested taking that at one time and I told him: Just talk to me more.
I decided to listen to your story.
I would like to extend the programming skills in Japan.
I think it is difficult for non-native speakers to master English conversation.
By spending time studying English conversation, I felt that I should not reduce programming study time.
Thank you for your valuable comments!
Hi Hayato-San.
I would (humbly) not agree to this point.
There are so many Japanese who mastered English communication and speak good English.
My suggestions here:
1) Please stop following Katakana - Katakana works like a poison to develop English conversation skills.
2) Start reading topics (including fiction neovels, if you like those) along with the text books.
3) Spend 15-20 minutes during a day in reading English text (anything which you like) while speaking (not just reading).
Best regards