Does Speed Learning Work ?

"Speed Learning" is well known way to learn English in Japan. The method uses CD with conversational phrases and booklet with the phrases on the CD. On TV, famous golfer Ryo Ishikawa, advertise the method. It seems like the easy fast way because all you have to do is to listen to the CDs over and over again.


I was asked if method really works. If you could make time to listen to CDs, and make time to look at the booklet while listening to CD perhaps it will help you learn English but will it be fast, will it make you native speaker of language?  From my experience of attempting to learn Spanish,Italian and various other languages, I find it quite hard to actually make time to listen to CDs constantly and make time to look at the book while following along the CDs.

One of the reasons why I recommend listening to favorite movie/tv show or favorite kind of music in English is if you enjoy it, it will not become dreadful and you can listen to it frequently. The method of listening and reading along is a great way to learn but to learn the language, there needs to be a constant exposure to the language.

Students who listent to English songs CDs and who have mothers that who are engaged into their English language learning are more likely to develop listening askills, and comprehention of English than those who don't.  But not all people learn language in the same way or at the same duration of time.

As a conclusion, yes, the concept behind "Speed Learning" works but you need to be productive and listen to the CD freuqently as possible and to some, learning may not be speedy as the product is advertised on the TV.

もったいない ”Mottainai”

"Mottainai (もったいない, [mottainai]) is a Japanese term conveying a sense of regret concerning waste.^[1] The expression "Mottainai!" can be uttered alone as an exclamation when something useful, such as food or time, is wasted, meaning roughly "what a waste!" or "Don't waste."^[2] In addition to its primary sense of "wastefulness", the word is also used to mean "impious; irreverent" or "more than one deserves".^[3]
Mottainai is an old Buddhist word, which has ties "with the Shinto idea that objects have souls."^[2] Mottainai has been referred to as a tradition,^[2] a cultural practice,^[4] and an idea which is still present in Japanese culture,^[2] which has become an international concept<sup>" (Wikipedia).


When do we use the word, mottainai?
Well... it could be used in any context. If you could not finish your lunch,that's considered mottainai. If you see a single girl with a great qualities, other might say mottainai because her qualities are being wasted. If you are throwing away old clothes  that could be still used or could be recycled, we say mottainai. This word does not translate properly in other language all the way because it is part of a Japanese culture. So when you cannot think of any words to describe the situation, try using mottainai for a change.</sup>