Japanese learn English using Obama speeches

Asahi Press official Yuzo Yamamoto said. “Would you buy the text of >former President George W Bush’s speeches?”

I would. They can be really funny.

“Would you buy the text of former president george w bush’s speeches?”

Only if you want people to misunderestimate your English.

Taka

“Would you buy the text of former President George W Bush’s speeches?”

i may consider and buy one if they sell at 100 Yen shops ! Now, about Obama speeches, it may not be for learning Enlish rather Leadership Qualities, if so, worth buying without any regrets.

....learning English...sorry for typo error

Japanese learn English using Obama speeches

Sure it's a positive story but I can't help but find the negative here and ask 'WHY?'

Is everyone in Japan just copying America thinking that, if Obama is well liked in America, then Japan must love him too?

“Would you buy the text of former President George W Bush’s speeches?”

To quote some advice from the movie, "Tropic Thunder," it's really not good to go full retard.

420,000 copies! Anyone else wondering, "Why didn't I think of that?"

japanese following the masses again.jp better live up to urself than looking up to America that brings u down

I think it's great that people are interested in Obama and politics etc. But the people who memorize these speeches are the same people who can't explain clearly how to get to the nearest post office.

This is similar to when the lemmings were reading Harry Potter.

japan, the land of the fad strikes again. Obama hasn't done anything yet but he's treated as a God. So amusing! Obama's speeches are written by his 27 year old aide who knocks them out in Starbucks it is reported.

Lost foreigner: Excuse me, do you speak English?

Japanese person, after reading The Speeches of Barack Obama: Yes, I can!

Lost foreigner: Good! Can you tell me where the train station is?

Japanese person: Yes, I can!

Lost foreigner: So where is it?

Japanese person: Yes, I can!

Lost foreigner: Aauugh!

Q. "How much is this apple?" A. "Yes we can!"

It was interesting when a prof on NHK was discussing the inauguration speech, and commented that the 'Yes we can' line was not featured. It was almost as if that, like a Japanese comedian, everyone here was expecting the gag/catchphrase to appear, that it was going to be part of his schtick.

There's something very pathetic about this story.

I hear they like the speeches because he uses language that they can understand. I'm a native speaker and I can't even understand what he's saying. His speeches are vague and I want to know, "What exactly are you going to do?" He rarely details specific policies.

The Japanese love this kind of language, though. So many times I have asked a Japanese student a question and they ramble on for several minutes and when they finish, I just ask the same question again, verbatim. Most never answer questions - just like Obama. They are afraid to say, "I don't know," just like the phony Obama.

Another useless English book filled with snazzy, catchy words and useless one-liners. I heard somewhere that even North Korea and Mongolia score higher on most English tests than Japan does ... now I know why.

As anyone who knows anything about finance knows that the US is bankrupt. Most Japanese know the meaning of bankrupt now because of USA and Obama.

Americans borrows 500 Billions a year from Japan. Japanese now know "say thank you" "you are welcome" and "thank me" and "Change."

Obama's speeches are written by his 27 year old aide who knocks them out in Starbucks it is reported.

J.K. Rowling knocked out Harry Potter's in a coffee shop. A combination of the Hawthorne Effect and caffeine seems to aid the writing process.

Sheez - the above should read Harry Potters - no apostrophe

ハ？

“Tonight is a particular honor for me because, let’s face it, my presence on this stage is pretty unlikely,” the students at Kaplan Japan school recited together Friday.

I'm ashamed that we have exported so successfully the whole perpetually adolescent victimhood schtick.

On the plus side, I do look forward to hearing from some college boy graduate of Kaplan Japan's Obama Course that America has 57 states.

As with Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech, myriads of English language learners on this island country will memorize the words, but not understand the meaning; they will recite from memory the sentences, but not the emotion; they will speak in monotone as they struggle with the phrases, but not the power behind the words.

Let's see how it translates...

"Four years ago, I stood before you and told you my story, of the brief union between a young man from Gunma and a young woman from Saitama who weren't well-off or well-known, but shared a belief that in Japan their son could achieve whatever he put his mind to.

"In the next snap election, we must stand up and say, Eight is enough: Eight months of a prime minister whose name escapes me.

"In Japan, for people of every creed and color, from every walk of life, our destiny is inextricably linked, that together our dreams can be one. We cannot walk alone, the sinto priest cried. And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back. Japan, we cannot turn back, not with so much work to be done; not with so many children to educate, and so many obatarians to care for; not with an economy to fix, and cities to rebuild, and farms to save; not with so many families to protect and so many lives to mend. Thank you. God bless you. And God bless Japan."

In Aichi, central Japan, a Buddhist monk has reportedly been playing the president’s speeches during his temple service.

Not surprising. After watching Candidate Obama refuse to get excited about all of the nonsense tossed his way, and watching him keep a cool head during the economic crash (while the other suspended his campaign, but didn't suspend his campaign, and canceled the debate but didn't cancel to the debate) I started to wonder if he had some exposure to Zen Buddhism, or at least the westernized ideal of Zen. I would imagine that a great deal of President Obama's views and actions are compatible with Buddhist teachings.

But Obama's speeches tend to be inspirational, and not conversational. You don't find Americans speaking like that. Maybe as a social tool to help some Japanese break out of that birth-school-work-death cycle, President Obama's speeches will be of help.

That Said.... I just had to look at this page to see the haters had to say about it. Yeah, right, a 27-year old speechwriter bangs them out at a Starbucks. That means that 8 years of your philosophy-in-action, your values, your work was quickly undone by ONE 27-year old at a Starbucks, LOL. Doesn't say much for America's opinion of your side's 'accomplishments', does it? I mean, no one was hypnotized. The voters merely weighed one candidate over the other. SO, get over it, OBAMA WON.

To quote some advice from the movie, "Tropic Thunder," it's really not good to go full retard.

Yabits, LOL. Funniest post of the week. Thanks for that. !

Would you buy the text of former president george w bush’s speeches?

To paraphrase Elvis Costello, yesterday's speech is tomorrow's fish and chips paper.

Hearing them once is enough to make me go nucular.

If anyone is interested the book costs 800 yen and some Change.

just another "boom" in japan..

Should fit in with most English learning topics in school.

yes uhh we can, because uh we uhh are the ones we've uh been uhh waiting for...

"it's really not good to go full retard"

OK, I won't read this book.

Sarge

HAR!

speeches... hmmmm... that'll really help people learn to converse

He was grown in the diverse culture and ascended in the career line that hugely pressurized and scrutinized by ethnic majorities. So he should have learnt really common language that well make sense with own diverse people and even works for closed culture people of japans.

Though I have to admit that he is a genius when it comes to making speeches and he is likely a better president than his predecessor,I don't think his speeches are practical for daily conversation. I don't use these kind of words even in Japanese, because they are a little bit abstract and idealistic.

So many times I have asked a Japanese student a question and they ramble on for several minutes and when they finish, I just ask the same question again, verbatim.

If I had five Yen for every time this has happened to me I would...well...you know the rest.

Obama hasn't done anything yet but he's treated as a God

Uh, it's been two days and he has already signed the orders to close Guantanamo (within a year) and withdraw combat troops from Iraq (in 16 months). That's something!

It is flattering to see Japan embrace American politicians, then again...

Obama's speech is very good in auditorium but not good for ordinary private English lesson, much better from ordinary English speaking people.

Obama fever,may make more Japanese learn English. That is a positive effect for Japan.

Obama's speeches are great learning tools in a class headed by a teacher who cares about education.

Sarge, isn't that an AFN commerical?

Well, if they want to learn to speak like Obama, that's pretty easy... . 1) Get a writer to write for you. 2) Get a teleprompter. 3) Pray the teleprompter doesn't uh...er.... break.

Loki - It is. Fits here pretty well, huh?

buddha4brains:Obama's speeches are great learning tools in a class headed by a teacher who cares about education.

Very true,amigo.Of course,we all know anything would be an improvement over the drivel from his predecesser,who was a failure in everything he ever attempted,from the get go,as we all know...hahahaha. Well,anyway,I can't WAIT to get the text!Like Ghandi and me I have the feeling that Obama understands non violence and he can end the war in Iraq and Afghanistan and he can bring peace to Palestine and end the embargo bush,who was an utter failure, foolishly insisted on imposing on Cuba.

TypicalJapanese - I have to admit that he is a genius when it comes to making speeches

He didn't right it. It was written three months ago by a team of professional speech writers. He only performed it. However, it is an excellently written speech. I'd be glad to think Japanese people would use this kind of English instead the dribble in most high school textbooks.

Everyone here is missing the obvious joke.

It won't be soon until until they release the speeches of Jeremiah Wright the guy who Obama listened to for 20 years!!!!

Wright Sensei

"Godo damu Amelica"

If Wright Sensei didn't teach Obama how to make a speech well then who did?

I can't wait to hear Japanese reciting Jeremiah Quotes.

Wow... even on a post as innocent as this you have the naysayers all riled up and bitter as hell. Must really suck to be you guys.

sarge: If you stopped your first post at the 'Yes I can!' it would have been funny and mildly original. As to the 'go full retard' post, that was, as you know, in relation to a potential book of bush speeches.

“Would you buy the text of former President George W Bush’s speeches?”

At the drop of a hat, yes! First and foremost they would be among the funniest things you'd ever hear in your life, and if they had some kind of bonus 'quotes and bushisms' section that'd be great, too. Also, for those who ARE English teachers out there you could definitely use them to have students find the 90 or so errors in the 100 words.

Yabits: Awesome post, and I'm glad we both love Tropic Thunder. Rockin' movie.

I think anything that has this many people in Japan looking at English cannot be a bad thing, so long as the content isn't Japanese English (which it's not, if it's Obama's speeches). I am quite frankly sick of seeing the yellow covers with Obama on them at every bookshop or on the trains, but it could be a hell of a lot worse.

Smith - You misunderstimated President Bush.

should read

Japanese use Obama speeches to make money.

sarge: "You misunderstimated President Bush."

Ummm... no, I don't. Do a random search of bush mistakes, sarge... there are HUNDREDS! And all are during major meetings, speeches, and ceremonies. The only thing I think I may underestimate is how quickly the hilarity of it would turn to disgust that the man calls English his native tongue.

"There's an old saying in Tennessee -- I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee -- that says, fool me once, shame on -- shame on you. Fool me -- you can't get fooled again."

As long as gems like these are in there, though, it would sell pretty well -- not as a tool to inspire, but as inadvertent comedy from someone who's supposed to be a leader. ha!

I'm waiting till they publish the book of Aso's speeches for learners of Japanese.

bakabaka: "I'm waiting till they publish the book of Aso's speeches for learners of Japanese."

Very true! Like with bush, it'd have to be a lesson on what NOT to learn, but at least in that respect it's a teaching tool. And hey, Aso might be able to teach a child the proper level of kanji.

Moderator: Back on topic please.

This can't be any worse than Matsuzaka watching movies like Lethal Weapon and Cliffhanger to learn English. Or can it...

It certainly canNOT be worse than watching said movies you quote... especially Stallone in Cliffhanger. Or were you referring to bush again?

If Obama gives people hope, let them have hope. If he lets them down later, all the more fuel for you who hate him simply because he's better than bush in so many ways. if he DOESN'T let people down, or succeeds in indirectly helping them achieving their dreams through said hope, then all the power to him and them, and all the more bad for you.

sarge: Just in case you got the wrong impression, I was just having fun with you as to the typo. It's there, but I'm not being nit-picky... just poking back! :)

Obama speeches are all about political speeches and so their values depend very much on not only words but also the timing , the circumstances and who deliver them. To me the way Obama deliver his speeches ( like an actor's performance) is the most important thing because this is the main factor which will make the ideas go through and stick to peopke minds, people hearts.

Obama was here in my town when he saw dead people. This is my favorite quote. I hope they have it in the book there in Japan:

"On this Memorial Day, as our nation honors its unbroken line of fallen heroes -- and I see many of them in ... in the audience here today."

No offence,but has President Obama official became a saint of a man?

It will be much better if they can add his inaugural address in a video-recorded archive.

Should read: Japanese using Obama speeches to [i]not[/i] learn English.

Loki - It is. Fits here pretty well, huh?

Hmmm, yes I do.

To quote some advice from the movie, "Tropic Thunder," it's really not good to go full retard.

Yabits: That was the funniest thing I've seen on JT in a while...good one....

Learning English or political rhetoric.

Yet another silly marketing trend. How much moar of this can we take?