We are often enjoined to “remember our roots”. Like Simba, we are to “remember who you [we] are!”. People who “forget their roots” are considered shallow and evil. I remember once reading some UK forum post (yeah, don’t ask) about how Catherine Zeta-Jones was “too good” to speak in an English/Welsh accent and had “forgotten…
Hinges: The Small Stuff That’s Actually Worth Sweating
by khatzumoto
Here at the ‘JATT, I’m often bombarded by questions that are as deep in their cute, noobish sincerity as they are shallow in significance. I often brush these questions aside with a grandfatherly chuckle, but I realize that there’s a good reason why they get asked. AJATT does a lot of myth-busting and idea-replacement, or…
Success Story: Emotional Context Learning — Using Phrases Correctly Without Actively Learning Them Or Knowing What They Actually Mean
by khatzumoto
This entry is part 8 of 12 in the series Secrets of SpeakingAJATTeer Jake C shares this little story of how he learned how to use certain Japanese words and phrases before he knew what they actually (literally) meant, because he was aware of their emotional content. I have had similar experiences myself in both…
Speaking: You Don’t Have A Linguistic Problem, You Have A Humanity Problem — Why You Still Suck At Speaking and How to Fix it Fast
by khatzumoto
You’re not nearly as good at your native language as you think you are. You just don’t realize it. If you want to be understood, speak less “accurately”: it’s like rain on your wedding day. Use the simpler, more natural, more native phrasing that communicates 80% of what you want to say; don’t aim for some 100% that will just confuse, won’t be reached and isn’t worth reaching for.
How To Use This Website
by khatzumoto
You’ve been asking: How do I use AJATT? Where do I start? How do I get the most out of it? What should I tell my friends to read? Here’s the what and how to…of…all of that 🙂 . Hey there. AJATT.com — that’s this site — has grown quite a bit over the years,…
[SilverSpoon] Neutrino SinoSpoon: What If Learning Mandarin Could Be As Addictive As Crack, Gambling and Abusive Relationships?
by khatzumoto
Hey, Khatzumoto. I’m already dangerously well-informed about Neutrino 😉 and realize that I meet the criteria of someone who deserves to join. I don’t need any more info! Please let me in right now while there are still places left! Education by Addiction What if learning Mandarin could be addictive? What if it could as…