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Obama Speeches Help Japanese Learn English

Students use his speeches to learn language

By Ambreen Ali,  Newser User

Posted Feb 21, 2009 9:55 AM CST

(Newser) – Barack Obama is fast becoming a popular English teacher—in Japan. His speeches have become a hit for people learning the language there, the Wall Street Journal reports. Obama's slow and careful enunciation make him a particularly good model, teachers say. One book of speeches, complete with a dictionary for terms like "stop-gap measures," sold half a million copies in 3 months.

"Other speeches may be better for learning vocabulary, but Obama's speeches make me excited about speaking English," says one fan, who says he listens regularly in the bath.

Maruzen book store staff Daisuke Tanaka adjusts The Speeches of Barack Obama, bottom left, and other Obama books  in Tokyo.
Maruzen book store staff Daisuke Tanaka adjusts "The Speeches of Barack Obama," bottom left, and other Obama books in Tokyo.   (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)
Japanese English students are mimicking Obama's speaking style, right down to his finger pointing.
Japanese English students are mimicking Obama's speaking style, right down to his finger pointing.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
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Many students are getting tired of listening to his speech only, because they have been listening to Obama every day for seven months. - English teacher Makoto Ishiwata

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 5 comments
Guest
Feb 21, 2009 7:28 PM CST
Define "proper enunciation", with respect to regional and class differences. (Surely 99.99% of all people, at least, learn a language, n'est-ce pas?)
Shannonals
Feb 21, 2009 2:40 AM CST
Proper enunciation is vital in learning any language
Guest
Feb 21, 2009 12:49 AM CST
Bush Speeches Helped Japanese Learn Broken English...and also a plethora of made up words...sounds...funny faces...
 

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