This is an interesting story that really makes you think about language acquisition.
A power couple in neuroscience, professors Patricia Kuhl and Andrew Meltzoff were in Hong Kong recently to give a talk on their respective areas of expertise – emotional quotient and intelligence quotient – and the role of each in language acquisition. http://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-education/article/1456247/between-lines-why-bilingualism-childs-play
For me I am left with the feeling that traditional methods are wholly useless, and no matter how long a person tries to learn a language or how much money they spend then they are already setting themselves up for a fall. However people still tell us if we are to communicate across language then we must speak another language. For me I think we just need to simply communicate.
It is difficult to acquire language later in life because the brain loses its elasticity. In terms of learning new languages past the age of seven, Kuhl posits that the “window of learning” stays open longer for children who were exposed to different languages as babies.
I believe that if this research is true then those who have had no exposure to other languages as a child, will struggle as adults and depending on when this influence stopped their wired connections in the brain are already being depleted.
Kuhl found early language skills predict future reading abilities, and skills not developed early are difficult to remediate later on.
This is where I believe EMASUK comes into its own.
- We don’t want people to fail.
- We understand that not everyone is a linguist, not everyone can learn many languages yet the way people are moving globally this is in some cities and expectation.
- What we do all want to do is communicate whether with colleagues, customers or other adults, no matter what field you are in. For the vast majority of us that means recognising where we are and then looking for a way to bridge the gap.
Our award winning Talking Tool called Two can Talk or ClaireTalk (in health settings) does this easily and relatively cheaply. Using two key boards and 26 languages it is possible to communicate across these languages simply and effectively at low cost 24 hours a day.
So which will you be?
- traditional continuing to do what you have always done and wondering why it isn’t having an effect? or
- use the toosl and knowledge available to me today to develop my communication skills?
If you chose number 2 the contact us for more details info@emasuk.com, 07824612965 for more details.
Bruce Moss
Tel: 07500 008092
EMASUK 