• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Smith's School of English

To provide English speakers the opportunity to own their own business teaching English in Japan.

  • Franchise Entry
    • Buy a Developed Franchise
    • Start Your Own
  • The Franchise
    • Work Visa & Taxes
    • Franchise Training
    • Franchise Support
      • What Franchisees get
      • SSE Products
      • FAQ’s
  • Testimonials
  • About
    • Coaching Confidence
    • Contact
  • Blog
    • English School Articles
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Blog · December 12, 2012

[Study] Slow and Steady [and You WILL Win the Race]

You are here: Home / Blog / [Study] Slow and Steady [and You WILL Win the Race]

The story of the tortoise and the hare is well known all around the world. It’s an old story and often repeated and for good reason- it’s moral is timeless and true. I hesitate to call it an axiom, but it is almost so- go slow and steady and you will find success. I have been studying Japanese for six years. Six years. Every week, twice a week, for six years. You might think I’ve finished several textbooks, maybe you think I’m fluent, expert, all-knowing. No. Not even close. In fact I haven’t even finished 1 complete textbook yet. To be precise, I’m on chapter 35 of 50 in Mina No Nihongo, the most popular and widely used textbooks for foreign learners of Japanese. I study at a very slow pace because I want to understand everything I learn, I want to know how to use it and I want to use it correctly. I take my time, I am the tortoise and at the end of the day the hare is peaking quickly but poorly, whilst I am speaking slowly and limited, but without mistakes and most importantly, with confidence. To me, confidence is the most important thing. So I say to you, 2nd language learners of the world, take your time, go slow and steady. I am often complimented on my Japanese, limited though it is, because of it’s cleanliness and naturalness- two points I am proud of. My vocab is limited, as is my grammar knowledge, but the vocab and grammar I know, I know deeply. I hope that my student’s of English as a foreign language will continue to come on a regular basis, once or twice or three times a week, for many many years, because that’s what it takes to become a confident speaker. I hope that my students will be tortoises.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • X

Like this:

Like Loading...

Related

Filed Under: Blog

Mark Smith

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Derek says

    December 14, 2012 at 2:08 am

    I agree. Well said.

    Reply

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

Primary Sidebar

Search

From the Blog

  • Blog
  • English School Articles
  • Smith's Sustainabilty
  • Sustainability Development Goals
  • Testimonials
スミス英会話メインページ

3 days ago

スミス英会話メインページ
今週のワンポイントレッスンはコチラです★What is your favorite natural view?あなたの好きな自然の風景はどんなものですか?smithweb.co.jp/2025/05/one-point-lesson-7a12/#スミス英会話 #月謝制英会話 #ワンポイントレッスン ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

スミス英会話メインページ

1 week ago

スミス英会話メインページ
今週のワンポイントレッスンはコチラです★What are your best travel memories?旅行の一番の思い出は何ですか?smithweb.co.jp/2025/05/one-point-lesson-7a11/#スミス英会話 #月謝制英会話 #ワンポイントレッスン ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Blog Posts
  • Discussing Milestones
  • A Common Listening Problem English Learners Have
  • Protected: The Japan Iwaskows
  • Christmas holidays in Germany (part 2)
  • German Christmas (part 1)
  • Autumn in Japan vs Autumn in Canada
  • Unique Japan- Smith’s School of English, Sagamihara
  • Edward’s Language Journey
  • Osaka Higashi Line – Convenient Fuse
  • Small Talk in Katsura
Smith’s School of English Franchises
#101,8-21-5, Hanafuku-building, Fukushima-Ku,OsakaTel: 0120-222-248 (Japan)
Tel: 81-6-6455-8050 (Other)
Fax: 06-6455-8052
E-mail: info@sse-franchise.com

Copyright © 2025 · Smith's School of English, all rights reserved. · Privacy · Log in

%d