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I can’t speak Japanese | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : Specific Languages |  | |
| cathrynm Senior Member United States junglevision.co Joined 6126 days ago 910 posts - 1232 votes  Speaks: English* Studies: Japanese, Finnish | Message 1 of 6 22 October 2010 at 4:23am | IP Logged | ||
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I can't speak Japanese
I found this article amusing. It's an account of one man's life spent studying but not learning Japanese. Maybe useful as a case study of how it can all go so wrong. Hmm, I think it should be Nihongo ga hanasenai... 3 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| lichtrausch Triglot Senior Member United States Joined 5961 days ago 525 posts - 1072 votes Speaks: English*, German, Japanese Studies: Korean, Mandarin | Message 2 of 6 22 October 2010 at 6:19am | IP Logged | ||
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That's a really sad story.
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| ericspinelli Diglot Senior Member Japan Joined 5784 days ago 249 posts - 493 votes Speaks: English*, Japanese Studies: Korean, Italian | Message 3 of 6 22 October 2010 at 7:03am | IP Logged | ||
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"I have low self-esteem" would have been a better title. The author spends too much time wallowing in self-pity to offer any insight into language learning or even provide a constructive alternative to his situation.
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| Lucky Charms Diglot Senior Member Japan lapacifica.net Joined 6950 days ago 752 posts - 1711 votes Speaks: English*, Japanese Studies: German, Spanish | Message 4 of 6 24 October 2010 at 9:16am | IP Logged | ||
I thought Jay's positivity and socially driven learning provided a pretty good alternative. And his story shows that in some cases, it's the small and stupid things that are holding us back, like insecurity, fear of making mistakes, putting multilingualism on a pedastal, obsession with looking smart and competent, etc. In other words, that sometimes our mindset is the biggest thing standing in the way. Sometimes we don't realize how many excuses we make to ourselves, and how much those excuses hold us back. I'm certain this would have been a very eye-opening story for me if I had read it a few years back, before I found this community. Edited by Lucky Charms on 24 October 2010 at 9:17am 5 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| Teango Triglot Winner TAC 2010 & 2012 Senior Member United States teango.wordpress.comRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 5557 days ago 2210 posts - 3734 votes Speaks: English*, German, Russian Studies: Hawaiian, French, Toki Pona | Message 5 of 6 27 October 2010 at 7:19pm | IP Logged | ||
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Yes, a depressing tale, but an all too common story of downward spiraling confidence in learning a language. And this can happen to us all from time to time.
For example, I know someone who's lived in Germany for well over a decade and falls into the same boat as Oli in the OP's story. However, as much as I've tried to shake and encourage him into action, he's found a comfortable sleepy hollow to rest and wallow in. Essentially only he can wake himself up and take renewed responsibility, to decide to get back in the race and reach his desired goals. Sometimes, personally, I've started off like Aesop's hare, swift and bouncing with energy. Then I soon steal a nap in the shade of a tree somewhere along the way, and end up kicking myself upon waking to witness all these damned tortoises plodding over distant successful horizons. And with downcast ears and whiskers, the race simply seems over and impossible to catch up... But it isn't at all, you know; it's only just begun. Because when it comes to learning a language, there's no real finishing line with red ribbon and cheering crowds; it's more like perspective lines leading into the unknown horizon, and the true competitor in all this is really just your own shadow. I think: forget the distance between you and other plodders or sprinters, they're usually on very different paths anyway, and focus on what you really love about the language you're learning and what you'd like to get out of it. And every time I pick myself up from a period of despondency, lazy plateau, or long period of absence, and remember this, I soon catch the first glint of silver lining around all the growing clouds of regret: the positive realisation that I did eventually wake up, and more importantly, didn't oversleep any longer. And then I start running again (propelled by an initial kick up the backside), fresh-footed and even more determined in the face of greater challenge, and as fast as my furious feet will allow me to go (at least, until the next naughty nap)! Edited by Teango on 27 October 2010 at 7:41pm 5 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| cathrynm Senior Member United States junglevision.co Joined 6126 days ago 910 posts - 1232 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Japanese, Finnish | Message 6 of 6 27 October 2010 at 8:14pm | IP Logged | ||
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It can be disheartening to compare yourself with other language learners who seem to do it faster -- still 3 years in country... I don't think this guy was a slacker, but it does seem like he was hanging out with English speakers in Japan.
Maybe people who actually learn language don't actually focus to pick out words? For me, this is a problem I recognize as something I need to work on. I have to consciously work to keep my brain from wandering in English while I'm listening to Japanese. It kind of reminds of meditation a little, or specifically what is difficult about meditation -- shutting off my brain's English running commentary. 1 person has voted this message useful |
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