The Challenge of Maintaining Multilingual Proficiency: A Personal Reflection

Recently, I realized how rusty my Japanese had become. Living in Japan, I’ve always felt confident in my language environment, believing there was no need to consciously maintain my Japanese proficiency. I am constantly surrounded by Japanese—whether at work or in my private life—so I assumed that passive immersion would be sufficient. However, I’ve come to understand that simply being in a language environment is not enough to sustain or improve language skills without active engagement.

At work, I spend long hours using Japanese, but the range of expressions I rely on has become repetitive and routine. Most of my tasks involve arranging shipment dates for products, sourcing essential components from suppliers, and resolving issues with our products. While the scenarios can vary, the language patterns remain predictable. This limited usage has dulled my ability to handle more nuanced or abstract topics in Japanese. When I try to hold deep conversations, comment on societal issues, or express my thoughts about news stories, I often find myself struggling to choose precise and appropriate phrases. This is a stark contrast to how effortlessly I could convey my ideas on a wide range of topics in the past.

The decline in my Japanese proficiency may also be linked to my recent efforts to strengthen other languages in my life. During my parents’ visit from China, we communicated exclusively in Chinese. Additionally, to help my children develop an interest in their cultural roots and my mother tongue, I’ve been speaking to them primarily in Chinese. At the same time, I’ve devoted much of my personal development time to studying English. I read English materials, watch YouTube videos in English for entertainment, and listen to English podcasts during my commute. While these activities have helped me progress in English and maintain my Chinese, they’ve significantly reduced my exposure to Japanese.

This imbalance has led to an undesirable situation: my Japanese proficiency has plateaued or even declined. To address this, I’ve recognized the need to consciously allocate more time to Japanese materials. Given the constraints of my busy schedule, I’ve decided to gradually incorporate Japanese reading into my daily routine. For example, I plan to dedicate time each evening to reading Japanese books, which will not only expand my vocabulary but also deepen my cultural and linguistic understanding.

Ultimately, this experience has taught me an important lesson: maintaining multilingual proficiency requires deliberate effort and balance. Simply being immersed in a language environment does not guarantee improvement. Whether it’s Japanese, Chinese, or English, proficiency requires active engagement—through reading, writing, speaking, and listening—tailored to each language. By consciously managing my time and creating opportunities for growth in all three languages, I hope to regain the fluency and confidence I once had in Japanese while continuing to advance in others.

Conclusion:
Proficiency in multiple languages is a lifelong journey that requires dedication and thoughtful planning. It’s not enough to passively exist in a language environment; true growth comes from actively using the language in diverse contexts. By reflecting on my own struggles and implementing changes, I aim to maintain a dynamic balance between my linguistic and cultural identities, ensuring that none of them are left behind.