Entry #1: Tips to Speaking Fluently, Quickly

  In Abroadin Japan's youtube video, "Speaking Japanese Fluently in 6 Months", he comically, and with somewhat of a sailor's tongue, offers some tips in learning (really any) language within a limited amount of time. His points are:

1. MASTER THE ESSENTIALS: Learn 1,000 words of core grammar.
2. MASTER CONVERSATION FILLERS: They are useful.
3. REAL LIFE JAPANESE PEOPLE: How to find a Japanese teacher anywhere in the world.
4. MASTER EVERY SITUATION: Think/problem solve in Japanese at all times.
5. GET EXCITED ABOUT SYNONYMS: Don't allow yourself to get stuck. Move on.
6. FORGET YOUR NATIVE LANGUAGE: Either speak Japanese or say nothing at all.

  Of course everyone is aware of the need to memorize a basis of vocabulary when entering a new language. However, in his second point, I was a bit surprised. Being raised in this American culture of teaching correct English, students are reprimanded when using conversation fillers. Although he is not condoning the use of them as correct grammar, he is implying that, because it is widely used, one will seem more fluent, more likely to fit in with the culture when using them. This leads to the point that fluency isn't just about being grammatically correct, but considering the cultural "norm", as well. He transitions into his third point of using the internet. He discusses a useful website called italki.com. This website does not only serve for Japanese to English purposes, but almost any language someone might be learning. Personally, I use conversationexchange.com, as introduced to me by a fellow student taking Japanese 102. It allows the same diversity as the first site. 

  Another great option is to visit your local college campus. If you are learning a new language, the study centers might have tutors available to practice with. I just recently started visiting my local Japanese tutors, and I am already benefiting from the person-to-person interaction. 

  I believe that points four and five are connected. Abroadin Japan explains in point four that there are certain words you can use to describe something you don't understand (ex: "thing"). Using such words in conversation, and showing your confusion can prompt the other person to fill in what you are trying to describe. As long as you can describe it, you'll most likely be fine. The next point encourages the use of synonyms. Don't get so hung up on remembering one specific word that you don't replace it with one that would have worked just fine. The specific word doesn't matter as long as you can get your idea accross. 

     EXAMPLE: What you want to say--> He's tall.

                                      (you can't remember the word for "tall")

                           Instead, say:   He's big.       or       He's not short.

The last point Abroadin Japan emphasizes is "forgetting" your native tongue. Although he does not mean that literally, it puts pressure on only speaking in the foreign language. He proposes that some people don't want to do this, that they will feel dumb for not being able to speak so eloquently in the foreign tongue as they can in the native one. However, this is an important stepping stool in order to start thinking and problem solving in that language. 

    These tips don't only apply to Japanese, but any language someone might want to improve in. I belive that if school classes assigned time to practice with a native speaker (maybe hire someone), the students would improve tremendously. In my American Sign Language class, our teacher requires that we have a certain amount of study group time. This is already immensely helpful in recognizing others' speech patterns, and improving interaction skills. This has really helped everyone involved learn how to "work around" a word by trying to describe it with our limited vocabulary. 

   Now that you know the secrets to fluency, 

try out this new-found success system

with a new language!

(Japanese. Why not ;)

Learn how to introduce yourself.