THE LINGUISTIC GENIUS OF BABIES…

 

http://https://www.ted.com/talks/patricia_kuhl_the_linguistic_genius_of_babies?language=en

 

The Linguistic Genius of Babies – Patricia Kuhl studies how we learn language as babies, looking at the ways our brains form around language acquisition.

 

 

    TASK: Before you listen, match these phrases and words to the appropriate meaning.

 

1. To be drawn to something	a) To differentiate  between things
2. [Something] is nothing short of [adjective]	b) To help explain or solve a problem or puzzle
3. To shed some light on something	c) To solve something
4. To figure out something	d) Completely…
5. To master something	e) To be attracted or to focus on something
6. To discriminate something	f) To become expert at something

 

 

TASK:  Watch the first 3 minutes of the presentation by Patricia Kuhl.  Listen for the words in the first task and then see if the below statements are TRUE or FALSE:

 

1. The presenter feels that babies need to study more rocket science.  T/F
2. Koro is a language from India. T/F
3. 800 countries in the world speak Koro.  T/F
4. Babies and children are geniuses at learning languages until they turn 7.  T/F
5. Scientists definitely know why this is.  T/F
6. Babies turn from “citizens of the World” to “language bound learners” before their first birthday.  T/F
7. The difference between the “ra” and “la” sound is very important to Japanese speakers. T/F
8. During the critical two-month period, babies take statistics in order to differentiate the important sounds of their mother-tongue.  T/F

 

TASK: Watch from 4 minutes and answer these questions:

 

1. Why are the /r/and /l/ sound so different for native English and Japanese speakers?
2. What does the “Taiwan / Mandarin” experiment prove about how babies learn a language?
3. When taking statistics and developing a new language, is watching a TV the same as listening to a human for babies?

 

Discussion:

 

1. How many languages do you speak?
2. What do you think the hardest language in the World is?
3. How old were you when you started studying English?
4. Would the World be a better place if there were only one language?
5. Why do you think English became the de facto international language?