Authors Should Be Honest

Japanese English learners tend to shorten their English learning history. 

For example, an English conversation book author said he began to study English for the first time when he was 36. After only three years studying, he got a good score in TOEIC test and published a book. Three years? No way!  He's a liar. He studied English at middle school and high school, even in college. How come he said that? What's the advantage in that? 

English studying book authors should be honest with their readers!