what I've been working on.

Summary

Mayuko, a software engineer, announces the release of her book aimed at helping Japanese speakers navigate English in the tech industry. Over the past four years, she worked with Kadokawa, a major Japanese publisher, to create a resource that teaches English phrases commonly used in tech, such as those related to pair programming, code reviews, and front-end/back-end development. The book addresses the challenges faced by Japanese learners, such as a focus on grammatical accuracy and the lack of tech-specific resources. Mayuko hopes her book will bridge the gap between Japanese and English-speaking tech communities, encouraging more Japanese people to enter the global tech scene.

Takeaways

• 😀 Mayuko, the speaker, is a software engineer who returned to the industry two years ago and has been enjoying her work.
• 📚 Mayuko has been working on a book for the past four years, which is finally being published.
• 🇯🇵 Mayuko’s parents taught her Japanese, and she has always incorporated it into her personal and professional identity.
• 📖 The book is aimed at Japanese speakers who want to work in the U.S. tech industry by teaching them commonly used English phrases in tech.
• 💬 English education in Japan is highly focused on accuracy, which makes Japanese speakers reluctant to converse in English.
• 🎯 There is a lack of resources teaching English for specific workplace contexts, such as tech and software engineering.
• 🔧 Mayuko's bilingual background makes her uniquely equipped to explain the differences between English and Japanese in tech contexts.
• 💡 The book covers key tech topics like pair programming, front-end and back-end development, getting a job in the U.S., and conducting effective code reviews.
• 🌍 Mayuko hopes the book will serve as a bridge between the Japanese and English-speaking tech communities.
• 📅 While uploads to her YouTube channel have been irregular, Mayuko expresses her gratitude to the viewers and plans to return with future content.

Q & A

What inspired Mayuko to write a book?

Mayuko was inspired to write a book after being contacted by the major Japanese publisher Kadokawa. The idea was to create a resource for Japanese speakers who want to work in the U.S. tech industry, teaching them commonly used English phrases in the tech world.

Why is Mayuko particularly suited to write this book?

Mayuko is a native speaker of both Japanese and English, which uniquely equips her to explain the nuances of the language and the cultural differences between Japan and the U.S. in the tech industry.

What challenges do Japanese speakers face when using English in the workplace?

One challenge is that English education in Japan tends to focus on accuracy, which makes Japanese speakers hesitant to speak out of fear of making grammatical errors or using improper formality. This can hinder their confidence in using English in a casual, work environment.

How does the book aim to bridge the gap between the Japanese and English-speaking tech communities?

The book aims to provide Japanese speakers with useful English phrases and expressions commonly used in tech, covering topics like time-boxing, screen real estate, code reviews, and more, which are not often taught in traditional English education.

What specific topics does the book cover?

The book includes chapters on pair programming, front-end and back-end development, how to get a job in the U.S., and how to conduct effective code reviews, all from the perspective of a bilingual person working in tech.

Why is there a lack of Japanese people in the U.S. tech industry, according to Mayuko's research?

Mayuko's research suggests that one reason is the heavy emphasis on accuracy in English education in Japan, which makes many Japanese speakers reluctant to engage in conversations where they might make mistakes. Additionally, there is a lack of resources that teach how to use English in specific tech work scenarios.

What impact does Mayuko hope her book will have?

Mayuko hopes her book will help bridge cultural and linguistic gaps between the Japanese and English-speaking tech communities, ultimately increasing the presence of Japanese speakers in the U.S. tech industry.

How long did it take Mayuko to write the book?

It took Mayuko about four years to write the book, with the help of editors at Kadokawa.

What makes Mayuko particularly proud of her book?

Mayuko is proud of how the book turned out because it reflects her love for both Japanese and English languages, her experiences as a software engineer, and her desire to bridge the gap between different tech cultures.

Where can people pre-order Mayuko's book?

People can pre-order Mayuko's book using the link in the description box of the video.