Comment Re:General Language Advice (Score 1) 285
That doesn't necessarily mean anything. I know plenty of 20- and 30-something American English speakers (lived nowhere else in their lives, never studied any other languages) who have the English skills of a grade schooler. Heck, look at half the posts on Slashdot! ;)
Even immersion techniques will only have limited effectiveness if the student isn't personally committed to learning what is being taught. They will tend to learn just enough to get by unless they find a personally compelling reason to go further. From your description, this may be what happened to you with your French instruction.
That said, don't let that nagging voice get you down. You never know, you may have a better time learning Japanese since you actually have an interest in learning it, rather than it being forced down your throat.
I wanted to learn Japanese for a number of reasons, including anime and manga, but also because of friends that I have met from Japan, as well as wanting to learn about the culture and history of the place.
I will say that the sparse self-instruction that I did helped a little when I went to Japan last summer, but not nearly enough! I do plan to keep studying, as I also plan to go back again!
Knightsabre
Even immersion techniques will only have limited effectiveness if the student isn't personally committed to learning what is being taught. They will tend to learn just enough to get by unless they find a personally compelling reason to go further. From your description, this may be what happened to you with your French instruction.
That said, don't let that nagging voice get you down. You never know, you may have a better time learning Japanese since you actually have an interest in learning it, rather than it being forced down your throat.
I wanted to learn Japanese for a number of reasons, including anime and manga, but also because of friends that I have met from Japan, as well as wanting to learn about the culture and history of the place.
I will say that the sparse self-instruction that I did helped a little when I went to Japan last summer, but not nearly enough! I do plan to keep studying, as I also plan to go back again!
Knightsabre
