lol

Is there an example of anybody who stumbled onto the AJATT site, followed the method there and became as fluent as Khatzumoto did in the same amount of time (a year and a half)?  I'm not saying that there isn't; I'm just wondering.

ta12121 wrote:

I'm not sure if you guys seen this article but it should answer your questions
http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/bl … -18-months

Khatz is so brutish.

Last edited by EratiK (2010 September 18, 3:31 pm)

ta12121 wrote:

EratiK wrote:

Khatz is so brutish.

He actually isn't, I guess it's just the way he speaks, sounds British?

Sorry, Frenchism (you know, beastly, bestial. In a positive way. You say this filled with awe).

I mean, dude, this guy is HARDCORE. (This kind of fluency in 18 months, come on!)

It's guys like Khatz that make me know that statistically, since the dawn of time, there's got to be someone (at least) that actually reached enlightment. It's sort of conforting I guess (I think I can, I think I can, I think I can).

Last edited by EratiK (2010 September 18, 6:14 pm)

>>

I haven't posted here in ages, but I saw this today and am highly amused.
http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt79 … n/lulz.png

That's my quote, from the AJATT plus thread. I feel like a celebrity.

And now I shall return back to oblivion.

That's probably because Khatz was in a really unique situation in that he had a shitload of free time.

I'm a high school student so you'd think I would be able to do it, but apparently the 8 hours a day where I can't listen to Japanese and the 3-4 hours after school that I have to do homework instead of SRSing gets in the way.

kusterdu wrote:

Well, he was in college and had a job and a girlfriend.  He explicitly says he had lots of stuff to do.  Even if he did have lots of free time, surely there are other people studying Japanese who have lots of free time.

It's not that I doubt that there is someone who has attained the same level of fluency as he has in approximately the same amount of time -- I just haven't heard of anyone.  Everyone who talks about or adheres to his method is still not there yet, and the success stories I've seen are people who have gotten better but are still just part of the way there.

true. For me I've made really good leaps in japanese, but not fluent just yet. I believe it really comes down to what you do daily. Then this adds up later on. So how much hours you invest is the best way to determine progress. So when we are not improving to the levels we want, we must ask ourselves "What more can I do?"

kusterdu wrote:

It's not that I doubt that there is someone who has attained the same level of fluency as he has in approximately the same amount of time -- I just haven't heard of anyone.  Everyone who talks about or adheres to his method is still not there yet, and the success stories I've seen are people who have gotten better but are still just part of the way there.

You don't hold on to the idea that his abilities could have been exaggerated a little? There is what, one video of him speaking so-so Japanese on youtube after having lived in Japan for 4-5 years....

Just sayin


I don't really understand the big fanclub he has.

kazelee wrote:

He doesn't owe it to anyone to tell the truth, afterall.

Truth in Advertising Laws might beg to differ.

thistime wrote:

kazelee wrote:

He doesn't owe it to anyone to tell the truth, afterall.

Truth in Advertising Laws might beg to differ.

He's not selling a product that he says will guarantee you fluency in a X amount of time. He writes a blog, that has adds. And he consults people on studying technique. The ambiguity of the word fluent gives a lot of leeway.

mmm FLUENCY

Rosetta Stone advertises itself as "the fastest way to learn a language." I've seen other commercials where the company went as far as to say it was "the best way to learn a new language." They said in a way that hinted it was a quote, this one went of air though.

How in the hell can they prove it is the fastest way to learn a new language, and in comparison to what?

kazelee wrote:

And he consults people on studying technique. The ambiguity of the word fluent gives a lot of leeway.

His consulting services are his product. If you are going to set yourself up as an "expert" of sorts in an attempt to make money by sharing your knowledge then your credentials need to be accurate and honest. Though I do agree that the word "fluent" is very open to interpretation. But what if he were to say, "I can tell you how to be fluent in 18 months like I was." (Which is what he's saying.) but he had no knowledge of Japanese or foreign language learning in general? Would that still be okay because he has no obligation to be honest?

Are you guys talking about Khatzumoto the self-help, personal growth, motivational writer?  He has a brilliant marketing strategy: disarm critics by winkingly reclaiming all criticism. What a clever idea! Unfortunately, by the umpteenth criticism the joke gets old and we start to take them at face value.

His most effective marketing was being an obnoxious know-it-all who got people upset and talking. The current "Ah shucks, I don't really know what I'm talking about, but at least I'm a positive person" schtick doesn't create quite the same buzz. And buzz is where it's at now for him. buzz is bucks. I mean, what more is there to say about self studying? How much was there to say in the beginning?  Time for a rebranding?

Beginning:  well...okay.....maybe you're allowed to take one earplug out when you have dinner with your inlaws for the first time...but DON'T break immersion.  And always eat with chopsticks!

Now: set your 2-minute timer to remind yourself that you're having fun, your 10-min timer to remind yourself that your an optimist! and your 15 minute timer to remind yourself to ignore anyone who wonders what the hell you're doing.  Just remember, they're just jealous naysayers...armchair critics...petty pessimists. You, my friend, are different....special....you can do it!!  Get your authentic AJATT timer now! With reminders in Japanese that I recorded myself!

[edit: btw Mr Khatsumoto (if you're still getting blog ideas from the RTK forum), you neglected to register your trademark in all relevant countries.]

Kazelee...darling...this brings back such fond memories...   ;-)

Last edited by Thora (2010 September 20, 1:34 am)

Well I can tell that this forum and Khatz have a little bit of a rut against each other.

However, thistime, Khatz can surely say a lot more than that. I mean, anyone on this forum could.

I don't know if he can do all he claims to do, but he has a technical (aka not-teaching-english) job in Japan so he has AT LEAST got JLPT 1 under his belt, and not to mention he's lived there for years apparently following his method so he must be much better than that.