Youtube Exercise » English Grammar Homework

The secrets of learning a new language | Lýdia Machová | TED

TED

11.9M views 7 years ago

Warm-up Questions

When you hear “the secrets of learning a new language,” what kind of secrets do you expect: talent, methods, or motivation?
Do you think it’s possible to learn a language “within months, not years”? Why or why not?
What do you personally find enjoyable (or not enjoyable) about learning languages?

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Start With: Word Definition

Order: Alphabetical Random

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The secrets of learning a new language | Lýdia Machová | TED

What polyglots do differently (00:00 – 03:36)

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1. Why did the speaker decide to meet other polyglots?

To create a new language school curriculum
To travel and practice languages in many countries
To find out what polyglots have in common and how they learn faster
To prove that polyglots are born with special talent

2. What is Benny’s main method for learning a language?

Memorizing grammar rules before speaking
Only watching TV shows with subtitles
Learning the 500 most frequent words first
Starting to speak from day one and learning from feedback

3. How did Lucas begin learning Russian on Skype?

He added many Russian speakers and copied messages between two strangers
He paid a professional tutor to chat with him daily
He translated a Russian novel word by word
He joined a Russian course and only wrote exercises

The secrets of learning a new language | Lýdia Machová | TED

Enjoyment: the real shared “secret” (03:36 – 05:51)

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1. What does the speaker say all polyglots have in common?

They all find ways to enjoy the language learning process
They all learn grammar first
They all travel constantly
They all have perfect memory

2. Why did the speaker read Harry Potter in Spanish even though she didn’t understand much at first?

Because her teacher required it for class
Because it was the only Spanish book available
Because she loved the book and kept reading anyway
Because it explained Spanish grammar clearly

3. What method does the speaker suggest for people who feel too introverted to speak to native speakers right away?

Self-talk in your room
Writing essays and sending them to newspapers
Only translating sentences from a dictionary
Avoiding speaking until you finish a textbook

The secrets of learning a new language | Lýdia Machová | TED

Three principles + talent myth (05:51 – 10:46)

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1. What does the speaker say is needed besides enjoyment to achieve fluency?

A special “language gene”
Only expensive lessons with native teachers
Three more principles: effective methods, a system, and patience
Living abroad for at least two years

2. According to the speaker, why is memorizing a list of words for a test often ineffective for long-term learning?

It prevents correct pronunciation
It makes learners too confident
It works only for grammar, not vocabulary
It only stores words in short-term memory and they are forgotten after a few days

3. What point do Benny and Lucas illustrate near the end of the talk?

The best way is to avoid mistakes when speaking
Polyglots succeed mainly because they are naturally talented
Even people who struggled for years can become successful by finding their own methods
Only children can become fluent

The secrets of learning a new language | Lýdia Machová | TED

Transcript will load here…

1. What is the central message of the talk?

Enjoyment plus good methods, routine, and patience can make language learning successful
The fastest way is to travel to many countries
Language learning success depends mostly on natural talent
The best method is to study grammar charts first

2. Which learning approach best matches the speaker’s advice?

Study only before tests to stay motivated
Wait to speak until you know every grammar rule
Use only one method no matter what
Choose activities you like (books, videos, podcasts) and do them consistently

3. How does the speaker respond to the idea that polyglots are “super talented”?

She agrees and says talent is the main secret
She says talent matters, but only for pronunciation
She says polyglots succeed through experimentation and finding enjoyable, effective methods
She says polyglots are born with better short-term memory

Discussion Questions

Discuss the ideas from this video

The secrets of learning a new language | Lýdia Machová | TED

Which idea from the talk would help you most right now: enjoyment, effective methods, a system, or patience? Why?
Do you agree that “joy in itself is not enough”? What else do you personally need to make progress?
What is one enjoyable activity you could do in your target language this week (video, podcast, book, cooking, self-talk, etc.)?
Have you ever believed you didn’t have “language talent”? What evidence could change your mind?