An email reply

This morning I awoke very early again with the first call of the day for prayers from a nearby mosque, and went onto the internet and received the following email from Jean-Daniel Antenau, jeandanielantenau@yahoo.fr, about language and reading.

With nothing better to do, I have posted my reply here, so that it may help others or promote a debate on the subject.

Email from Jean-Daniel Antenau, Quote :-

Hi there,
I just came to get some information about NLP. I'm french and went on some site by Phillip Holt, a friend of yours.
This man pretends reading dictionaries at the speed of 30,000 words/min in order to understand the general meaning of any book in foreign language ! Interesting isn't it ? I was interested.
So I visited his place on internet and the French translation was... at best funny, at worst not understandable !
Then I visited your page : it was the same pathetic story !
Hey ! Ho !  What is this all about ? Just making fun of everything ? Aren't there more serious businesses to do of your lives in these times ?
Jean-Daniel Antenau

Unquote

My Reply :-

Dear Jean-Daniel,

Thank you for your input.
 
I had used a Google tool which translates a web page for you. (see web pages in question, www.nlpnow.net).
  
As I have written, and freely admit, I do not speak any other language other than English. I make no excuse, I have a problem with languages. I believe it is due to the learning of language/s before the age of twelve, the development of the brain during this time, that is the Broca's area, the Wernicke's area, and other language-processing areas.
 
There is also the motivation, the desire to learn other languages. Again, I freely admit, I do not have the motivation to learn another language, and that is no disrespect to your language French, or your culture.  
 
You can say some people are good a running, so good that they enter and win medals at the Olympics, others have two left feet, and never run, even for a bus.
 
For me to become an Olympic champion in all the languages of the countries I teach in and visit, I would have to spend a lot of time and practice. Perhaps I am not motivated or willing to do so.
 
I have difficulties, so I prefer to spend my time studying the human, the brain, learning skills, teaching skills, and how I can best deliver and share these skills to as many people as I can, all over the world.
 
As I said, I have a problem, I do not speak the languages, French, Italian, Turkish, Arabic, Chinese etc, so I use translators (click to see some of my translators), whom I can trust, or think I can. It is only from positive feedback from people like yourself, that I know if the translation work. In the case of the web pages you mention, your email is the first in five years I have had mentioning the translation problem you have highlighted. Thank you, I appreciate your feedback.
 
At least I have tried to convey or pass-on my skills in PhotoReading, Memory, NLP, Hypnosis Mind Maps to others of other nationalities, cultures, beliefs if they so wish to learn.
 
Yes there are many people who teach the same skills who speak the native languages of French, Italian, Turkish, Arabic and Chinese etc, many who have copied my work, or followed the same route as I have to learn directly from the originators themselves, like Tony Buzan, Paul Scheele, Paul McKenna, Richard Bandler, John Grinder, Ormond McGill, Gianni Golfera, and more, and with their blessing or permission, teach these skills.
 
Yes my work involves laughter, fun, and does I hope my web site http://blog.ohpoopoo.com/, that is in my experience the best way of learning, with emotion, laughter, happiness.
 
At least you laughed. "Hey ! Ho !"
 
Why not go and find a French speaking teacher of PhotoReading, and try the system? Thousands of people all over the world have, and have proved it to themselves that PhotoReading a book, a dictionary helps in their understanding.
 
I have demonstrated this technique often in courses I have given, PhotoReading a book in a language I do not speak, and giving specific answers to questions asked of me. Can you do it? Do you know how to do it? Have you even tried?
 
I doubt it. I have spent many years practising and doing.
 
110 years ago, man could not fly by mechanical means, then two Americans, or a Brazilian, or a British person, whichever history books you have read, put together some twine, wood, fabric, placed an engine in it, and flew some 30 yards/meters.
 
Then man could fly.
 
Since that time, new developments have been developed, new materials have been introduced, so much so that the Airbus 380 has been created, allowing people to go from one side other the world to the other in one hop.
 
It is the same in reading, perhaps you were taught at a tender age of three I expect, how to read, word by word, and that is it, that is how far you have got. You are still flying the Wright brothers aircraft The Flyer, perhaps you should upgrade to the A380, learn from a Certified PhotoReading Trainer like myself, who have helped open minded people to get more out of their life, to learn and stop critising others and their beliefs and abilities.

 
The Wright Brothers first aircraft, The Flyer

Being able to absorb information at such high speed, means people do have more time to spend on the more serious side of modern living.
 
But like me and languages, if you are not willing to try it, you will never know or learn.
 
Again thank you for your input, I really do appreciate comments and feedback, good, bad, constructive or whatever. 

 

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  • 12/14/2008 10:41 AM Jean-Daniel Antenau wrote:
    Hi ! Thanks for your input !

    Yes, you understand that my “output” was ironic ! You were fast : if I was an NLP believer I would say that you’ve been PhotoReading (PhotoReading trademark is owned worldwide by Learning Strategies Corporation) my iMindMap (Mind Maps trademark is owned worldwide by Tony Buzan.)!

    And thanks for your offer, I do appreciate. I’d be very interested, not as much for developping a skill, that I wouldn’t find useful anyway, as for watching your speech techniques. Since you sound successful, I suppose you’re talented at what you do, whatever my opinion on it’s value.

    The “old” (as you “input” it) way of reading allows me to enjoy this activity. Reading Shakespeare at “rapid”, “super” or “syntopic” speed would be disastrous, wouldn’t it ? Reading “To be or not to be” in a 100000th of a second would miss some of it’s dramatic meaning !

    For the other kinds of reading strategies, I’m lucky enough not to need such a speed efficiency. Thanks again !
    Reply to this
    1. 12/14/2008 11:22 AM Phillip Holt wrote:
      Well as a "Certified" and fully paid-up trainer for Learning Strategies, a Master Trainer for iMindMaps and a BLI (Buzan Licensed Instructor), I can use their trade marks, not like some other trainers who steal trademarks and copyright, or who just change the names so it becomes "XYZReading" or  "cognitive mind maps" .

      You never know when a skill will become useful, changing a tire of a car, baking a chocolate cake, are skills I hope I will not have to perform. But one day.

      I agree with your Shakespeare input. Personally, I have no desire to read Shakespeare, as I had enough of him at school, so if I had to research his work, I would PhotoRead. But, you will read at normal speed, those sections which you need to read, so you would gain that dramatic meaning.

      I love the work of Wilbur Smith, his fictional writing captures my imagination, so much so I hang on every word.  Therefore I read in the old sense. Prior to reading in the old way, I will PhotoRead the book, but I will not know the plot or who won the war.

      PhotoReading a fiction book, or a non fiction, makes the old reading experience so much better I find.

      There is a place for both types of reading, the old at say 180 WPM and PhotoReading at 20,000 and above, plus don't forget speed reading.
       
      By the way, how is it that a French person would want to read Shakespeare?

      I must congratulate you on your English. If I was not so stupid I would have presupposed you were an Englishman in disguise.
      Reply to this
      1. 12/15/2008 12:18 AM Jean-Daniel Antenau wrote:
        There are public debates, as between Obama and McCain a few weeks ago for example, and private ones, just between two people.

        Public ones, I may feel interest for witnessing or participating to such events, comparable to sports competitions. Whenever you’re supporting one side, you can’t be bored. If you’re not a dumb fanatic, your champion must fit some aesthetic, ethical or whatever rules otherwise you’re not quite satisfied and may loose faith, that’s why your heart beats… but it’s not the only reason. It’s also important because, if your champion proves to answer your chosen rules, you think that a certain number of spectators will witness the same difference and have to change their mind to some point, agree with you somehow eventually : you’re not only yourself then, you’re also feeling part of a community…

        Ours is not quite that kind since you can choose to show it or not on internet. Nor do I know who’s visiting your blog, not quite a fair public place for me, is it ?

        Private ones, again two kinds. There can be “friendly” fires… and “fiendly” ones !

        With a friend I can even play the “devil’s advocate”, for the main purpose is not to gain points against the other party, but with the friend. And possibly changing one’s mind,why not, according to certain common “friendly” rules (like not loosing face, for example…)

        With an “enemy to the cause”, debating's just useless.

        I know enough, and have many good arguments, to despise NLP : personal, ethical, sociological, political… but I also know you won’t “make my day” !

        I’m now at the point to consider whether or not we could exchange some “friendly” debate…

        and when I need to go to sleep because I’m starting early tomorrow !

        Sincerely
        Reply to this
        1. 12/15/2008 4:15 AM Phillip Holt wrote:

          Yes there are two types of debate, public and private, and I think at the outset, our debate was deemed to be public, as in your first email, you stated :-

              "I'm french and went on some site by Phillip Holt, a friend of yours."

          So, in my mind, by sending your first email to a third party, not knowing it was the same person i.e. "Phillip Holt", you had made the debate public. Not that you being French would make any difference.

          But that is by the bye , I have really enjoyed our banter. I hope that I have been fair to you by not editing any of your messages, so that I am giving as in true debate a chance for both sides to show their colours.

          I do not see my courses as competitions, but journey's that willing people, should they so wish, can take, and that I am the tourist guide, pointing out places of interest, to allow my fellow travellers, for yes I too discover new things on the journey, to revel in the experience, and to learn new ideas and skills, that they can reproduce on their own, for their own purpose, in their own time.

          It is not for me to set my own beliefs, my culture on other people, but for sure I cannot help doing so, as with any experience, anything seen, heard, tasted or felt will influence peoples understanding of the world in a new way.

          I am certainly not dumb, nor a fanatic about PhotoReading , nor any of my other learnings or courses like hypnosis or NLP . Yes, I am passionate, and I think that comes out in my courses, as participants report back to my organisers and myself, I teach from my heart, but understand that there are many football teams in the world, and each has the right to support their own team, but to be part of the overall football community.

          Sitting here in Bukit Mertajam, Malaysia, with the temperature inside the house at about 80F, whilst outside under a clear blue sky, the temperature is even higher, and the humidity so high, I am sweating all the time.......... Has that not influenced you, painted a picture of where I am, change your mind, knowing now that I am not in the UK freezing, by just describing my situation now.


          My home in Bukit Mertajam, Malaysia

          I hope that our encounter has been "friendly", and not a devilish or "fiendly" sort, and I have not openly tried to gain points over you, you are too articulate and knowledgeable for that it seems. People who work with me will know I am open minded about anything, and accept other peoples point of view, but will try and prove a point with facts and experiences that they can try themselves.

          With regards to NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming), people have their own experiences and beliefs as they should do. My job as a trainer of The Society of NLP I believe, is as one of the foundation stones of NLP, to give choice.

          My job is to let people experience first hand what NLP is about, with examples and exercises, so that they can take away with them what they need. All my courses are interactive.

          NLP is not a panacea, a cure-all, the answer to the world's problems. Some people may think that, but it is surely not.

          NLP is how we the human race process information, how we interact with the world and ourselves.

          Human nature is there, knowing about it at any level, by say NLP, is going to give people choice about what is happening, how we are being manipulated by the press, governments, politicians, religious leaders, mothers, fathers, children and friends all and every day, and how we can use the same tools to make chances to ourselves and others.

          It is there, whatever name you give it, you cannot sweep it under the carpet.

          As with anything, there will be good people and bad, good accountants and bad, good doctors and bad.

          It is down to the individual to choose how to use knowledge after being taught in an ethical way.

          I trust you had a great nights sleep, and that will "make your day".

          Friendships do emerge, after all, Obama and Hillary are working together now for a better world.


          Reply to this
  • 12/15/2008 6:44 AM asu wrote:
    gosh what a long debate! who's this guy? do you know him? or have any idea who he is??? definetely not french!!
    Reply to this
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