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So, do you think this article would work for an American learning Japanese?

• patio11 17y ago
  That depends very much on whether you let Tim Ferris define the word "work". Tim Ferris is claiming that he: 1) Learned to understand 2) the oral instructions regarding 3) a single simple, limited domain 4) from a single speaker or small set of speakers 5) in a very rote, ritualized context Back in the real world, you will frequently be called to: 1) Read, write, speak, and listen to 2) an unbounded variety of discourses (including "instructions") regarding 3) an unbounded variety of topics, many of which you have little prior interest in (such as "Compelling Reasons To Not Arrest Me") 4) from a very diverse set of speakers numbering in the millions, representing many dialects, speaking styles, social statuses, verbal ticks, and dispositions with regards to you (such as "Skeptical Small-town Policeman") 5) in a variety of contexts ranging from heavily rote conversions or ritualized interactions to extraordinarily fluid situations which you you may never encounter prior to really desperately needing to perform well in them.
  • jbellis 17y ago
    Tim proudly notes that his grasp of Japanese grammar was better than that of people who had "studied for 4-5 years." I'd say the big difference was Tim was _living in Japan._