Comments on: What is the Purpose of Study? http://blog.feedmejapanese.com/2008/05/06/what-is-the-purpose-of-study/ Learning to Read Japanese by...Reading Japanese Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:31:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Khalid http://blog.feedmejapanese.com/2008/05/06/what-is-the-purpose-of-study/#comment-36 Khalid Fri, 09 May 2008 17:41:43 +0000 http://blog.feedmejapanese.com/?p=15#comment-36 Over on the other half of this site, www.feedmejapanese.com, we'll be trying to answer that exact question. Before that, however, we're looking for answers to: How do you encourage exploration? How can you benefit from other people's exploration? What does "good" exploration look like? I agree completely that fast, easy, quick and effortless sells. I was amused that when I received notification of your comment in my gmail inbox, several ads for learning Japanese came up. One even claimed: "Get fluent in Japanese in 3 months"!?!?!?! Ultimately, I think "exploration" is a niche. If I had to guess, it's filled with people who tried the quick stuff and either burned out or realized the *true* magnitude of learning Japanese and became discouraged. Over on the other half of this site, http://www.feedmejapanese.com, we’ll be trying to answer that exact question. Before that, however, we’re looking for answers to:

How do you encourage exploration?
How can you benefit from other people’s exploration?
What does “good” exploration look like?

I agree completely that fast, easy, quick and effortless sells. I was amused that when I received notification of your comment in my gmail inbox, several ads for learning Japanese came up. One even claimed: “Get fluent in Japanese in 3 months”!?!?!?!

Ultimately, I think “exploration” is a niche. If I had to guess, it’s filled with people who tried the quick stuff and either burned out or realized the *true* magnitude of learning Japanese and became discouraged.

]]> By: Goddess Carlie http://blog.feedmejapanese.com/2008/05/06/what-is-the-purpose-of-study/#comment-35 Goddess Carlie Fri, 09 May 2008 13:06:09 +0000 http://blog.feedmejapanese.com/?p=15#comment-35 Do you think people would buy something that is marketed as an "exploration" or something to that degree, rather than a quick fix? I'd like to think they would, like it could even be a selling point: "This isn't a quick fix, but hey, with this you're more likely to actually become fluent in Language X than the with the quick fixes!" Maybe I'm too pessimistic, but I think while this may sell, it wont sell as well as the quick fix. Everyone wants to get the easy way out of things, but there is no easy way out. Most things in life take effort. Even if it is fun, it's still effort. Do you think people would buy something that is marketed as an “exploration” or something to that degree, rather than a quick fix? I’d like to think they would, like it could even be a selling point:

“This isn’t a quick fix, but hey, with this you’re more likely to actually become fluent in Language X than the with the quick fixes!”

Maybe I’m too pessimistic, but I think while this may sell, it wont sell as well as the quick fix. Everyone wants to get the easy way out of things, but there is no easy way out. Most things in life take effort. Even if it is fun, it’s still effort.

]]> By: アカン http://blog.feedmejapanese.com/2008/05/06/what-is-the-purpose-of-study/#comment-33 アカン Wed, 07 May 2008 09:14:40 +0000 http://blog.feedmejapanese.com/?p=15#comment-33 Having seen this since primary school, I couldn't agree with you more. Even now, all that people are interested in are: exams, results, more exams, more results.....*sigh* Sure, 'exploration' and 'discovery' may not be as enticing as 'total memory recall' or 'Language X in Y days', but does it even matter (as long as you're enjoying yourself?) If you're penniless, and find happiness in sitting on a wooden bench all day, does it really matter? Having seen this since primary school, I couldn’t agree with you more. Even now, all that people are interested in are: exams, results, more exams, more results…..*sigh*

Sure, ‘exploration’ and ‘discovery’ may not be as enticing as ‘total memory recall’ or ‘Language X in Y days’, but does it even matter (as long as you’re enjoying yourself?)

If you’re penniless, and find happiness in sitting on a wooden bench all day, does it really matter?

]]> By: Goddess Carlie http://blog.feedmejapanese.com/2008/05/06/what-is-the-purpose-of-study/#comment-32 Goddess Carlie Tue, 06 May 2008 21:21:42 +0000 http://blog.feedmejapanese.com/?p=15#comment-32 Great post! Very true as well. What you call "playing" I call an "active break". Almost the same thing - you are talking about using what you have learnt even while studying, which I agree with, while I think of an "active break" as playing around while taking a rest from study. Great post! Very true as well. What you call “playing” I call an “active break”. Almost the same thing - you are talking about using what you have learnt even while studying, which I agree with, while I think of an “active break” as playing around while taking a rest from study.

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