Short Wave 'I'm Willing To Fight For It': Learning A Second Language As An Adult
Jun 16, 2021
Learning a second language as an adult can feel daunting, but it’s not impossible! The discussion dives into the 'critical period hypothesis,' exploring how adult learners can still achieve fluency. With personal stories and insights into bilingualism, the hosts highlight the cognitive challenges unique to learning languages later in life. They also emphasize the emotional connections to language and family heritage, encouraging adults to embrace the journey of language acquisition at any age!
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Kwong's Mandarin Journey Begins
- Emily Kwong played home movies featuring her family speaking English and Mandarin.
- Kwong, despite her heritage, could only say basic greetings in Mandarin.
Language Acquisition is Complex
- Language involves many brain parts and is studied across disciplines like linguistics, psychology, and neuroscience.
- Learning a second language makes one a developing bilingual.
Phillips' Bilingual Background
- Sarah Frances Phillips, a linguist at NYU, grew up bilingual.
- Her parents, who met in Korea, emphasized communicating with both sides of the family.