Your Spidey Sense (Encore)

I received a comment recently, saying that learning languages as an older person is almost an impossible task. As someone who has learned 10 languages after turning 60, here’s what I think about the topic. 

This is the first part of a series of episodes in which I explore what the common assumptions are for language teaching. Today, I'm covering the first three questions in the survey I opened, which you can also answer here: https://forms.gle/qAnoxepR2Fdgpnbv6 The questions are: So ... Show More

From the earliest grunts and gestures to the complex sentences we use today to convey a multitude of concepts, language has evolved to become one of humanity’s most powerful tools. It allows us to connect, create, conspire, control, console, catch up, and so much more. How did we ... Show More

Is the Way You Speak Limiting How You Think?For years, scientists debated how language shapes the brain, but new research reveals it goes far beyond communication. Some languages lack numbers, grammar, or even complex sentences—yet their speakers navigate reality in ways that def ... Show More

In this video, I talk about how memory changes as we age and what that means for older adults learning languages. 

Avant, on parlait des anciens ou des vieux, simplement. Puis, on s'est mis à parler de "personnes âgées", comme si ça leur retirait un peu du poids des ans, puis on a trouvé plus élégant de parler du "troisième âge", puis des "seniors"... l'une des dernières inventions en date ém ... Show More

There are thousands of languages in the world. Some are spoken by billions of people, others by less than one hundred! Which country has the most languages? In this episode I’ll answer that question, look at some of the languages spoken in that country, and try to explain why the ... Show More

On sait que les jeunes enfants sont capables d'apprendre très vite ce qui deviendra leur langue maternelle. Du fait de la plasticité du cerveau, ils peuvent même apprendre plusieurs langues sans jamais risquer de les confondre. Mais cette acquisition est-elle définitive ? Peut-on ... Show More

When talking to someone in something other than your native language, it sometimes helps to know what other languages they speak. This not only helps you to learn more about a person, but can also potentially give you insight into other things you have in common with them. In thi ... Show More

We’ve all seen it. A child moves to a new country and, within months, is speaking the local language. Meanwhile, adults struggle for years. It seems unfair, right? People often say, “Children are like sponges!” They soak up languages quickly. But why? What makes their brains work ... Show More