The Hindu Business Line : Intensive `immersion' for language edge

Knowledge of the local language is a great advantage, says Kishan S. Rana in The 21st Century Ambassador, from Oxford (www.oup.com). For instance, an ignorance of French can be `a serious handicap' in Paris; and in countries such as Italy or Germany, "the envoy will be at sea in following the TV, and have virtually no access to the print media," without a comprehension of Italian or German.

Rana writes about `an unusual language reward formula' that Japan practised in the mid-1990s. `An informal grouping of about a dozen Japanese-speaking ambassadors stationed in Tokyo', named Heisei-kai, used to have `access to members of the royal family' and be `taken on special outings' — `ostensibly to practise their language skills'. An encouragement system that merits `cautious emulation', says the author.

"Using intensive `immersion' methods, working knowledge of a language can be acquired in three or four months, if the individual is sufficiently motivated," assures Rana. "Major Western services and others like the Chinese and the Russians use this option, but most other diplomatic services do not offer language training, partly on the ground that senior personalities do not have time for full-time training."

A book that offers an insightful look at the world of diplomats.

Live life, now

Nora Ephron's I feel bad about my neck (www.landmarkonthenet.com) has a chapter titled `what I wish I'd known'. It has many one-liners. Such as: You never know. The plane is not going to crash. Anything you think is wrong with your body at the age of 35 you will be nostalgic for at the age of 45.

At the age of 55 you will get a saggy roll just above your waist even if you are painfully thin. Keep a journal. Take more pictures. You can order more than one dessert. If the shoe doesn't fit in the shoe store, it's never going to fit. When your children are teenagers, it's important to have a dog so that someone in the house is happy to see you. Back up your fines. There are no secrets...

Entertainingly true!

Tailpiece

"There are two types of people: One, the blog-heads... "

"Blockheads?"

"That's the other type."

http://BookPeek.blogspot.com

D. Murali