Japanese learn English using Obama speeches

[malaise]

This is too fabulous:
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200901231713.htm
<snip>
TOKYO (AP): Aspiring English speakers in Japan have made President Barack Obama's book of speeches and accompanying CD a national best-seller.

In Aichi, central Japan, a Buddhist monk has reportedly been playing the president's speeches during his temple service. And dozens of students in an English-language class in Tokyo have been memorizing his 2004 Democratic Convention speech to improve their understanding and pronunciation.

``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 on Friday.

``The Speeches of Barack Obama'' has sold 420,000 copies since its release on Nov. 20 _ an ``unprecedented huge hit'' for an English-language text, according to publisher Asahi Press.

Any book that sells more than 100,000 copies in Japan, which has a population of 128 million, is considered a success, and foreign-language publication sales rarely exceed 20,000, the publisher said.

Obama's book of speeches surged to No. 2 in Japan's main best-seller list this week, according to Hiroki Tomatsu, an official of Japan's largest book distributor Tohan Co. that publishes the ranking.

The 95-page book compiles Obama's speeches including the one at the 2004 convention, many from the party primaries, and his victory speech after he beat Hillary Rodham Clinton to secure the Democratic nomination. Each English-language transcript comes with a Japanese translation.

[sakabatou]

1. Kakuii

[DesertFlower]

2. how cool is that?

:hi:

[malaise]

5. They must have been waiting eight years for some speeches

in English :rofl:

[DesertFlower]

6. lol.

:toast:

[IDemo]

21. So confusing...."put food on family".....what can be meant by this??

[treestar]

3. Oh, neat

Maybe some Freepers can learn English that way!

[malaise]

7. I doubt it

They're hooked on Bushspeak

[GoesTo11]

9. Can you imagine learning English from Bush's speeches?

[malaise]

11. No

That is all :D

[treestar]

19. Which explains why they can't form a rational thought

Their enemies are doing all they can to wreck the English language, and so are they. :rofl:

As students, they is not doing much learning.

[theoldman]

4. The Japanese are very particular when it comes to learning

the English language. They are perfectionists in everything they do. Years ago I read some news articles that had been translated from Japanese to English. The translators were Japanese and they did an excellent job. The level was so high that I had to get out my dictionary to understand some of the words.

[DCKit]

16. So you're saying they know "perfection".

I'll be very, very scared when the next tech-support person I speak to is truly fluent in the language. At that point, the U.S. will surely have lost it's edge.

[Oregone]

8. There is no way Obama can possibly live up to international expectation

It will be tough for him to meet domestic expectation, but you have to understand these international people are seeing him under their light, in probably a very distorted way unique to their cultures and political philosophy. Im sorry to say it, but politically speaking, the United States, and Obama included, are very right of center compared to the social democracies of Europe, as well as many socialists countries developing in South America. He is being greeted with as much enthusiasm as the second coming of Christ in some of these reports, and although Obama will be a breath of fresh air compared to Bush, I think he will leave some of these people scratching their heads in confusion and bewilderment with some moves he will make. You really can't make everyone happy at the same time.

[ConcernedCanuk]

14. Give Barack Obama a year or two - let's see what he does

.
.
.

He's got a whole lot of crap to clean up after the PNACer's slime left behind by the BFEE

Remember, Barack Obama is a skilled lawyer

Gee dub was a loser with a rich daddy

BIG difference

[AsahinaKimi]

10. Subarashi!

Omoshiroi desune!! Nyuusu wa totemo kakkoii desuyo! Ganbare!!

[malaise]

12. Translate please

:D

[AsahinaKimi]

13. Okay! (Hai!!)

Subarashi!!-- Fantastic!
Omoshiroi desune!!** Nyuusu wa totemo kakkoii desuyo!** Ganbare!!
Very interesting!!** This is totally cool news!!** Do your best!!! (to Japanese students)

[malaise]

15. Thanks

:hi:

[AsahinaKimi]

18. Dou Itashimashite!

:hi:
"You are welcome!"

[applegrove]

17. Can anyone imagine trying to learn english using *'s speeches & public statements? LOL!

[conspirator]

20. That would be a "find the grammar errors" exercise nt