What's AJATT?

26 октября 2022 — Тацумото Рен

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AJATT is a method of reaching fluency in a foreign language in a relatively short time. It encourages spending as much time as possible in your target language every day, immersing yourself in the language and culture of the country where the language is spoken without having to travel to the country, take classes, use outdated and boring textbooks, or spend any money. In short, the fastest path to fluency is to integrate your target language into your daily life with the help of the Internet and modern technology.

The AJATT method primarily involves learning the language through a combination of listening and reading. This can include watching movies and TV shows, as well as reading books, novels, comic books, and manga. The method emphasizes that fun and learning go hand in hand, and that learning a foreign language should not feel like "work" or "study." Enjoying the learning process is absolutely essential. If the process is not fun, you should either stop or find a way to make it fun.

Key aspects of AJATT include Stephen Krashen's Input Hypothesis, the use of SRS to help remember new words and phrases, learning kanji through the JP1K method, the focus on learning sentences instead of isolated vocabulary and grammar, and the use of TSC.

AJATT was also influenced by Antimoon, another input-based language learning method. While Antimoon focuses on learning English, AJATT can be applied to any foreign language, though Japanese learners have historically made up the largest group.

AJATT was created by a person named Khatzumoto in 2006. Following Khatzumoto's retirement in 2023, Tatsumoto took the reins as his successor and now governs the guidelines and structure of the AJATT method. Here on this site and within our community, we not only teach the AJATT method, but also continue to refine and improve it. Over the years, we have developed new ideas that have not been discussed elsewhere and created tools that make language learning easier. Our goal is to share AJATT's insights with a broader audience while consistently updating and improving the method. As Khatzumoto once said, AJATT does not remain static. It is flexible and should evolve. Therefore, we are excited to continue his work.

Originally, the name AJATT stood for All Japanese All The Time. But as people began applying the method to other languages, alternative readings were adopted. Some call it All Joy All The Time, because AJATT holds that enjoying the process in your target language is essential. Others read it as Always Juggling A Target Tongue, because the method keeps you constantly engaged with whatever language you are learning, no matter which one it is. Another reading is All Journey All The Time, which preserves the obsessive, immersive spirit of the old name without locking the idea to one language. There are other readings as well.

To start learning with the AJATT method, read our Table of Contents.

Why does premature reading cripple phonetic awareness?

26 октября 2022 — Тацумото Рен

Native speakers absorb language subconsciously through constant exposure, whereas non-native learners often rely on reading and analyzing sentences when acquiring their target language. Premature reading can interfere with developing a native-like understanding of the language, and it can harm phonetic awareness and negatively affect your pronunciation. This article explores how premature reading can limit your ability to internalize phonetics, and why balancing listening and reading is crucial for mastering any language.