English: The Obama Way

Obama’s speeches are the subject of much talk these days, and in some cases, they are helping some to learn English.

From FP Passport: Japanese Learn English the Obama Way

Barack Obama’s speeches are proving to be more than just moving. They’re providing English lessons to many Japanese. The English-language textbook, The Speeches of Barack Obama, has become a bestseller in Japan, topping the list at Amazon’s Japanese Web site. The 1,050 yen ($11.81), 95-page paperback book features Obama speeches with Japanese translations. Yuzo Yamamoto of Asahi Press, which published the book, told Reuters:

His speeches are so moving, and he also uses words such as ‘yes, we can,’ ‘change’ and ‘hope’ that even Japanese people can memorize.

- Marc

7 comments on “English: The Obama Way”

So, the Japanese are going to come over here and make a bunch of flowery, meaningless statements?

I would think they might want to learn english spoken well and with passion rather than from someone like Bush who has given such eloquent statements as…

“You teach a child to read, and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test.”

“Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?”

“Will the highways on the Internet become more few?”

I could go on and on but I’m scared I might get dumber just thinking about it.

Bush may struggle with eloquence, but he is not a stupid man, despite what most high-minded liberals like to point out.

I’ll be more impressed when the Japanese vote in their first black President.

FF I just wanted to point out that I may be quite liberal but I was pointing out the way these two men speak a completely different. I’m may be a liberal but I’m a realist when it comes to saying stupid things, trust me I’ve done it more times than I can count. I recall Obama getting the number of years he has been married wrong during one speech.
What it really comes down to is that Obama is a great orator and his speeches inspire people. If that empowers someone to expand their knowledge and learn another language, I don’t see that as a bad thing. Personally I feel Larry the Cable Guy is stupidity personified but for some reason the phrase “git-r-done” inspires people to, well, get things done.