President Barack Obama's speeches not only re-energized politically inactive Americans, but his reputation as an incredible public speaker has also inspired Japanese citizens who don't even have a full grasp of the English language.
A New York Times article indicates that a CD recording of Obama's inauguration speech has already sold more than 200,000 copies since its release in January by the Asahi Press. The publishing company has also sold half a million copies of a compilation CD including several of Obama's speeches.
According to the Times, Publishers have since flooded the market with over a dozen language-learning titles, including “Speech Training: Learning to Deliver English Speech, Obama Style”; “Learn English Grammar From Obama”; and “Yes, I Can With Obama: 40 Magical English Phrases From Presidential E-mails.”
Why is there such a massive Japanese market for recordings and books of Obama's speeches? The people of Japan say that listening to Obama speak is a sure-fire way to enhance English speaking skills.
“Mr. Obama’s English is easy to understand because he pronounces words clearly and speaks at a relatively slow pace,” said Professor Tadaharu Nikaido. “Movies tend to be the most difficult for Japanese, especially when actors mumble their words.”
Mr. Obama sets his range of vocabulary wide enough to accommodate all levels of English speakers, Professor Nikaido added, and at the lower end, it sometimes comes within the range of non-native speakers’ comprehension.
The most incredible aspect of this story is the fact that a majority of the people who buy Obama's speech CDs have almost no understanding of the English language.
Yuzo Yamamoto, an editor at Asahi Press says that since sales have blown up, he has received letters from customers who are touched by Obama’s words, but “those same people have said they were moved even though they didn’t understand English well.”
“Some even said the only phrase they caught was, ‘Yes, we can.’ They said they were in tears nonetheless,” said Yamamoto.
The Japanese buyers may also be feel as though they understand the speeches through non-verbal cues, such as the audience laughing or chanting political slogans such as "Yes we can."
Since Obama's speeches tend to put the listener at ease, Yamamoto says the buyers experience the same sensation as listening to music.
By the looks of things, Reagan's reputation as the "Great Orator" will soon be snatched by the first bi-racial President in the U.S. Not only did Obama's speaking skills help convince Americans to vote for him in 2008, but they have also had an educational impact on countries such as Japan.
Comments
Can't say I'm totally surprised. The man has a great public speaking demeanor, which is enhanced even more by the fact that he is our first president after the terrible speaker that was George W. Bush.
Fascinating! :)
Instead of looking at inspirational tapes, Japanese need to change their English education.The Japanese English education is terrible. During 2006-2007, Japan was rank as the worst English speaking country in the Eastern hemisphere. Generally,teachers only emphasized on passing the English exams,instead of helping them learn how to speak; unfortunately, their writing ability is as bad, if not worse than their speaking ability,e.g., Engrish.It's pretty shocking how a myriad of English speakers go to Japan, every year, teaching children to adults, and they do not make a difference. However, it goes both ways, because a good number of Japanese citizens are contempt on not leaving their country, or learning other cultures, like most Americans.I am not just saying about Japan, but other Eastern countries, e.g., China, South Korea,etc. Look at India, an East Asian country, they can speak fluent English; people can't use history, because it is comparable to other Western influenced country.
I have to say though Mario, the Indian education system is partially affected by their former status as an English colony. This is not to say their education system is not well equipped to teach effective English. just that it wouldn't be so effective if it didn't have the pressure put on it that the other countries you listed did not have.
@Tamala True,when comparing to India, there were less pressure for the listed countries, but, historically, Japan abandoned their culture for westernization.With that type of commitment, their English, as a whole, should be better.The average citizen needs to know a second language-let it be English or Chinese- shows embracing culture. In truth, partial or not, India's English education is far better than Japan's. China wanted to balanced westernization with their culture, but the yesteryears clouded their judgment.In addition, for the pressuring the other countries, there is no difference from colonization age.Korea was willing to embraced whatever China wanted to do, until Japan's invasion.In the modern age, citizens are now well-versed to know that learning English is must needed trait--English is the primary language after all.Overall, pressure or not, everyone had several centuries to pressure others to be at least bilinguist
Demagogues speeches are usually easy to understand...
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