THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR HARD WORK ...why I'm crap at Japanese

You know Sally, a jolly lady, but overweight and out of shape. She's been telling you now how this time she has figured it all out. This time she really has found "the way" the right programme, the right fitness app, the right diet. She passionately believes that this time she has found the answer. She makes short-term progress. But before long you Sally balloons again and quits. A few months (or years ) later Sally begins whatever latest miracle program product or potion is the craze and the pattern repeats. Poor Sally , exposed to the latest dribble, fails again. but the reality is she lacks the consistency to create the habits required for permanent change and established health and fitness.

 Likewise I have been trying to learn Japanese for 30 years now and I'm still crap. Ive been distracted by promising sounding strategies methods and have failed to apply the consistancy required to become fluent. My spoken Japanese isn't too bad. I can bumble along, and make myself understood but my comprehension is terrible and written even worse. But I've been trying for 30 years? I picked up Japanese language thinking it  could be a skill I could learn on the road as a full time athlete. I began with a good old fashion text book. I was disciplined and methodically worked through the lessons step by step.  Initially, I put in the time,tested myself, did some mileage and became quite a capable speaker. But after a year or so I was still very average and became bored, and tried some other approaches,cassettes for example.(remember those) and my learning become sporadic.

Nonetheless by the time the Nagano Olympics came around I did actually manage a couple of bumbling interviews but they subtitled me, so I was obviously still crap. Then I stopped completely for a couple of years. From that point on It was a stop-start on again off again process over the next 20 years. I tried This lingo app that youtube channel the Callan method the .... method. What I really needed to do was keep plugging away at the text book real life application but I didnt and I'm still crap. I have been looking for the magic pill, stopping and starting again. Taking a few steps forward but then stopping, going backwards and letting my language brain get fat again. Languages cant be forced quickly and without consistency I will continue to be crap at Japanese and it is entirely my own fault.  Like Sally this time. I've been looking for short cuts that don't exist.  There is no substitute for hard work.