Passive listening doesn’t help, you say? Well, how are you supposed to play a song you’ve never heard? How are you supposed to do a Lady Gaga impression when you’ve never even heard her speak or sing? I’ll tell you how…you make it up. You get creative. You invent something new. And therein lies the…
Mental Tools
Patience
by khatzumoto
This entry is part 1 of 2 in the series PatiencePatience is not passive waiting. Patience is not static. Patience isn’t sitting down and shutting up — that’s being cooperative and docile to help driving parents. Patience is dynamic. Patience is active preparation. Patience is doing. If you’re not too preoccupied and too physically tired…
Don’t Ask Me For Advice…
by khatzumoto
…as if I have all the right answers from the back of the Book of Life and Japanese. Most people don’t mess up by doing the wrong thing. They mess up by doing nothing. Sure, going to Japanese class seemed like the obvious answer. And you tried that. And it didn’t work. And now here…
The Three Laws of Language Acquisition
by khatzumoto
The Prime Directive: Have fun The Promise: Suck less The Path: Make contact little and often
Stop Trying Hard. Try Easy.
by khatzumoto
This entry is part 3 of 3 in the series Hard and EasyThere’s a difference between: (A) Things that are good for you, and (B) Things that are good for you and that you’ll actually do. Most so-called New Year’s resolutions are type (A). They sound heroic. They sound “disciplined”. They work. It’s just that…
Logical Reasons to Learn A Language…
by khatzumoto
This entry is part 3 of 7 in the series The First World Problem is ChoiceAre some of the worst. There’s nothing worse than a good reason to learn a language. Logic won’t move you. Addiction will. Stop looking for good reasons. They won’t help you. They will only oppress you. You don’t need them.…