[quote="Taro Toporific"]No, the tongue doesn't physically change. The language learners' habits and ego boundaries become more inflexible as the neural pathways in the brain become more
the infuriating thing (to me at least) is that all those hours are wasted when they could be spent exploring usefull and interesting aspects of japanese culture/mindset rather than alt this right wing shite covering up the facts that (like us limeys) the japanese genepool is a hodgepodge of immigrants and invaders hell even the "yamato tribe" were gaijin (weren't they?)
btw, thinking of the vastly different facial/body types you find in japan, is there a name for that type/condition where (almost always) men have a roundish face with browner/wider lips a red nose and distinct freckles? i always thought it was an anime stereotype before getting into japanese cinema and actually living there
All I can say is if it's true that the students' Japanese is indistinguishable from a native's then the teachers have done their job. I am totally amazed and jealous at the idea, especially if such programs actually make kids smarter in other subjects as Taro says.
It might make more sense to do that type of program in *Spanish* though, don't you think?
I have a Japanese friend who teaches in a program like that in the US. But he's at the junior high level. The kids start the program in elementary school but he said by the time they get to junior high most of them aren't interested in being there and are forced to stay by their parents so their Japanese isn't always that good.