From Dreams to Comedy: Teaching Thai With a Twist [S5.E23]

Greg interviews Kru Nan from the "You Too Can Learn Thai"
podcast. Greg begins with the theory of the 'critical period,'
that the human brain is primed to learn languages early in life
but not later. Kru Nan notes that the research is not final and
that adults might actually have some advantages over children.
For example, adults may be able to absorb more information more
quickly and also to contextualize it because of their
pre-existing knowledge about the way the world
works. 


Next, Greg and Kru Nan discuss the difference between
beginner, intermediate, and advanced learners, from the nature of
the class preparation to the study materials themselves. This
leads to a fascinating discussion about how culture affects the
interpretation of anecdotes and dreams. Listen in for details,
but suffice it to say 'snakes' don't always mean the same thing
around the world. Kru Nan follows with several more fascinating
examples of how culture - both pop and traditional - affect our
use of language. 


If you have any interest in improving your Thai, definitely
check out www.youtoocanlearnthai.com
for resources and the podcast by clicking
here. 


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