How not to learn a language

Yesterday I met a couple of friends for a drink, and it cheered me up. I knew it would. I had my first real belly laugh since I came back to Japan.

Friend One was talking, and happened to mention something about her Japanese teacher. Friend Two interrupted.

"I didn't know you were having lessons!" she said. "When did you start?"

Friend One waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, twenty years ago, or so," she answered. "I'm still on the same textbook."

We stared.

"My teacher can't understand a WORD I say," she said. "I'm SUCH a bad student."

When we stopped laughing, Friend Two said,

"Hasn't it occurred to you that it might be time for a change of teacher?"

"Oh, but I LIKE her," answered Friend 1. "She's my friend. She's a cool lady."

"I bet she teaches you in English," I said, giggling.

"Well, yes..."

"And I bet her English has REALLY improved after all these years!"

We hooted.

"Well... yes..."

"And YOU pay HER? How much do you pay her?" asked Friend Two.

"Oh, not much," said Friend One, somewhat defensively. "It's hardly anything."

I think it's sweet that she has remained loyal to her teacher for all these years.

On the other hand, I wonder how much of her trouble with Japanese would not exist if she had switched to another teacher, say, oh, nineteen and a half years ago?