I was watching the special features of the Mission:Impossible 2 DVD,
and I was struck by how, in the making-of documentaries, people would
say how Tom Cruise was able to learn new skills, such as mountain
climbing, martial arts, and so on, so quickly.

He seems to be able to do that for whatever role he needs to learn
something new for, such as playing pool for The Colour of Money,
flipping glasses for Cocktail, sword fighting for The Last Samurai -
there is usually some skill he needs to master quickly, and he does it
every time.

1. How come he can master new skills like that so fast, when other
actors, who could get access to whatever coaches they want, cannot?

2. Does it have anything to do with the system of learning that
Scientology might provide? If so, wouldn’t most Scientologists also be
able to learn skills quickly?

3. How can someone, like say me, be able to learn to learn, so that I
can develop new skills quickly as well?

Markabe,

Here are the most relevant documents I found:

The Top 10 Strategies for Learning More Quickly (by Thomas J. Leonard
& David A. Burnet)
http://www.thelearningcoach.com/10toplearning2.html

How to learn faster [Word Document]
http://www.lifetools.com/NewPages/ReportPages/18%20learning%20techniques.doc
"18 techniques for faster learning"

How to Improve Learning Skills
http://braindance.com/bdilearn.htm

My Learning Technique? Ask Questions!
http://www.telusplanet.net/public/jwberger/mneumonx/learn.html
"These are some of my tips for learning more quickly and effectively."

A Look at Experiments in Accelerating Education (by Mrs. Aruna
Raghavan)
http://www.icpd.org/education/LookatEducation.htm


One related skill to faster information processing is "speed reading".
See:

Reading Efficiently
http://english.glendale.cc.ca.us/methods.html

TurboRead Speed Reading
http://www.turboread.com/

Speed Reading, Reading Improvement and Assessment - AceReader
http://www.acereader.com/

Speed reading techniques
http://il.essortment.com/speedreadingte_rjpv.htm


For further information, see:

Memory - Theories and Processes
http://brain.web-us.com/memory/theories_and_processes.htm


On my research regarding Tom Cruise, one interesting thing was
mentioned by several sources: Tom Cruise suffered from Learning
Disabilities. [1]

TIME Magazine: Being Tom Cruise
http://www.time.com/time/europe/magazine/2002/0701/cruise/story2.html
"I was diagnosed as having dyslexia. I confused letters. I was a slow
reader. I didn't know how to use a dictionary. I tried, but I didn't
have a system where I could learn. I couldn't catch up."

The Church of Scientology apparently played a part in this actor's
life to overcome some struggles.


Hope it helps!


Footnotes:

[1] Learning Disabilities
http://www.geocities.com/kids-in-crisis/learndisable.html


Further links:

FAQ about Learning Styles
http://www.creativelearningcentre.com/default.asp?page=faq&sub=aboutpas&lang=&cs=NZ%24&cr=1&theme=main


Search terms:
"how to speed up learning"
"learning more quickly"
"faster learning"
"faster learning" -organization
"accelerating education"
"speed reading"
"mastering skills in short time"
"learning techniques"
"improve learning"
"tom cruise" techniques learning"
"tom cruise" scientology learning
"advanced learning style"

Dear markabe-ga, I think j_philipp-ga had given you stacks of
documents that you should read. Although, I'm going to try to look at
your question from a different angle.

I've been interested in accelerated learning long ago, so I'm just
giving you what's on my mind now.

>1. How come he can master new skills like that so fast, when other 
>actors, who could get access to whatever coaches they want, cannot? 
I think the secret is within Tom himself. He was told in his early
ages that he was 'stupid' when his educators couldn't see the problem
that he has a learning disability, as noted by j_philipp-ga. This is
what motivates him to gain other learning skills so he could learn
faster than in the past. There are many ways to improve your learning
skills and learn faster. Which j_philipp-ga had point to. Anyways, I
suggest you read these books in early stages:
1) Use both size of your brain by Tony Buzan
2) Quantum Learning series by Bobbi DePorter (there's Quantum
Learning, Quantum Teaching, or Quantum Business)
which I believe can be acquired in the nearest library.

>2. Does it have anything to do with the system of learning that 
>Scientology might provide? If so, wouldn’t most Scientologists also
be
>able to learn skills quickly? 
I'm not into Scientology, probably ppl who's into Scientology can
answer better. But I'm sure if you had set yourself to learn anything
that you capable of doing, like Tom did, you won't let anything stop
you.

>3. How can someone, like say me, be able to learn to learn, so that I
>can develop new skills quickly as well?
I just happen to look at an article that you should start with, it's
for parents but I think you'll like it.

Achieving Educational Success
http://familyeducation.com/article/0,1120,23-28998,00.html

This topic is very deep, so I suggest you dig in yourself, which is
better for you. :)

As for closing notes, please read what j_philipp-ga had provided you,
they're very useful. I'm sure going to read it, because I'm going to
need it for my own article, thanks, j_philipp-ga!

Ephi :)

markabe...

I won't post this as an answer, due to the considerable
amount of material already given, but I have to tell you
about the concept of 'modeling', which is an aspect of
Neuro-Linguistic Programming, or NLP. While many consider
it 'pop' psychology, I have personally seen astonishing
results from its disciplined application.

Modeling boils down to imitation, in a sense. Simply put,
if you want to feel depressed, simply imitate the posture,
breathing, facial expressions, hygiene, dress, and anything
else you can manage to model (thoughts, e.g.), of a depressed
person. You will soon feel quite unpleasant. Actors use this
all the time - some better than others.

It follows that, if you want to learn something new, like
rock-climbing, pool, or whatever, you find an expert and
duplicate how they operate. A very important aspect of this
is to know the invisible components of their process, such
as their thoughts, attitudes, beliefs and feelings as they
do what they do. One of the most obvious (to me) qualities
that Tom Cruise has is a 'can do' attitude. To some people,
it looks like he is 'smug', but I think it is more of an
attitude which says 'I can do that - yeah, I can do anything
I set my mind to'.

The latest development in NLP is called 'Meta-Stating Learning'
and it's about 'Accessing the experience of Accelerated Learning'.
You can learn more about that on the NeuroSemantics website:
http://www.neurosemantics.com/Training/Meta-States_and_Advanced_Modeling.htm

As I long term Scientologist (going on 18 years now), I will post a
comment here that just might answer your question. It certainly has
been awhile since you have posted it.
As to question #1, 
How come he can master new skills like that so fast, when other
actors, who could get access to whatever coaches they want, cannot? 

This requires a pretty lenghtly answer but it sounds like you are
asking "why are some people more able than other people?"  The best
Scientology reference I can give you on the is a book called "Science
of Surival"  I am not going to attempt to summarize that book in this
comment.  It's a good read though.

Does it have anything to do with the system of learning that
Scientology might provide? If so, wouldn?t most Scientologists also be
able to learn skills quickly?

The answer to that question is it most definately does. In fact, the
word Scientology means "study of knowledge" which can be translated
into "learning how to know"  Knowledge is such a key fundamental to
Scientology and a method of  study has been developed that is
workable.
On action in Scientology is the " Key to Life" which you can find here: 
http://www.keytolife.org/11-idx.htm

From what I have heard this is what turned Tom's study ability around.
I know it  did mine.

And yes, most scientologists develop the ability to learn quikly. Do
all? no, but a large, very large % do. Do all increase their ability
to learn? most definalely yes.  I can say this as I have been training
students in scientology for many, many years now.

How can someone, like say me, be able to learn to learn, so that I
can develop new skills quickly as well?

Well, I know nothing about you except you like MI2, like me. Though I
liked MI 1  much better.  In order to learn to learn, I would suggest
you be prepared to roll up your sleeves, work hard and do exactly what
the Hubbard method of study says to do.  And a big, big part of that
(not all) is making sure you know what EVERY word means.
But do you own research, buy a book, apply yourself and you will get it.  

Anyway, I hope you find this helpful.  

Oh, I just wanted to make a comment here too about some of those
"quick learnning" methods out there.. Bogus!! this is all I got to
say. most of those things don't help a person retain any information.
sure maybe they can spit out answers but can the person USE the
information when done.. that is the question.  with most quick
learning methods, no application is so far out of the realm, it's a
dream.

Hubbard's method isn't exactly quick when one starts using it, but it
does become quick the more and more a person uses it and.. he can USE
the information studied when done.