Learning to read in a foreign language has taught me to embrace ambiguity – one sentence at a time | Patrick Lum

In striving to understand Japanese books and comics, I’ve adopted the habits of a weightlifter: I find my comfort zone then push beyond itMind your language: how learning French helped me remove the condom from the wineI’d been learning Japanese on and off for years when, on New Year’s Day 2022, I realised I could still barely master the sushi bar menu. Three years on I’m now reading my ninth book, having finished a few hundred comics and a video game – all in Japanese.I’m still amazed at my achievement. My biggest breakthrough? Learning to embrace ambiguity and finding comfort in incomplete understanding. Continue reading...

Jan 14, 2025 - 15:49
Learning to read in a foreign language has taught me to embrace ambiguity – one sentence at a time | Patrick Lum

In striving to understand Japanese books and comics, I’ve adopted the habits of a weightlifter: I find my comfort zone then push beyond it

I’d been learning Japanese on and off for years when, on New Year’s Day 2022, I realised I could still barely master the sushi bar menu. Three years on I’m now reading my ninth book, having finished a few hundred comics and a video game – all in Japanese.

I’m still amazed at my achievement. My biggest breakthrough? Learning to embrace ambiguity and finding comfort in incomplete understanding. Continue reading...