[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:08.49,0:00:13.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When I was 21 years old, \NI could only speak English,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:13.52,0:00:16.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is typical for those of us \Nfrom English-speaking countries,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:16.46,0:00:19.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I had many reasons why
Dialogue: 0,0:00:19.48,0:00:22.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this is going to be the case for me\Nfor the rest of my life.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:22.27,0:00:23.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I was very confident of this,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:23.76,0:00:26.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because I had no natural talent,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:26.51,0:00:28.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I had a very bad memory,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:28.76,0:00:31.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I couldn't travel to the country yet,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:31.26,0:00:33.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was too old, I felt too old
Dialogue: 0,0:00:34.27,0:00:35.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I was sure
Dialogue: 0,0:00:35.52,0:00:37.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that I was going to frustrate \Nthe native speakers
Dialogue: 0,0:00:37.96,0:00:39.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and embarrass myself.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:39.53,0:00:41.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And on top of this, in school,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:41.28,0:00:43.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I did really poorly with languages.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:43.76,0:00:48.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, I did actually get the opportunity\Nto get into languages
Dialogue: 0,0:00:48.51,0:00:50.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,after I graduated at university
Dialogue: 0,0:00:50.28,0:00:52.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with a degree in Electronic Engineering,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:52.25,0:00:54.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,still only able to speak English,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:54.03,0:00:55.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I moved to Spain.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:55.28,0:00:57.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I figured, this is it!
Dialogue: 0,0:00:57.02,0:00:58.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this is going to solve my problems,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:58.25,0:00:59.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,living in the country.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:00.82,0:01:01.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,No!
Dialogue: 0,0:01:01.54,0:01:04.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Six months later of living in Spain,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:04.26,0:01:05.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I couldn't speak any Spanish.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:06.76,0:01:10.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, a sensible person \Nwould have given up at this stage
Dialogue: 0,0:01:10.24,0:01:11.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and gotten the point.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:11.50,0:01:12.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm not very sensible though.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:12.79,0:01:14.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I figured
Dialogue: 0,0:01:14.77,0:01:16.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if I change my approach
Dialogue: 0,0:01:16.77,0:01:19.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and change my attitude,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:19.75,0:01:22.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,maybe I can change my language skills.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:23.28,0:01:26.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And what happened to inspire me \Nto get into language learning
Dialogue: 0,0:01:26.52,0:01:29.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was I met a polyglot.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:29.26,0:01:32.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A polyglot is someone\Nwho can speak many languages.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:32.76,0:01:34.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the first time\Nyou meet someone like that,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:34.90,0:01:37.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you can't help\Nbut feel really impressed.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:37.77,0:01:41.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Like, for instance\Nthere's Richard from the UK,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:41.75,0:01:45.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and there's one video online\Nwhere he speaks 16 languages.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:45.02,0:01:47.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Let me just show you a little clip here
Dialogue: 0,0:01:47.26,0:01:49.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you can see him:
Dialogue: 0,0:01:51.26,0:01:53.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,French,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:53.27,0:01:54.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Estonian,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:54.52,0:01:55.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Czech
Dialogue: 0,0:01:55.78,0:01:56.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and Catalan
Dialogue: 0,0:01:56.78,0:01:58.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is pretty impressive.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:58.04,0:02:00.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We also have Luca from Italy,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:00.50,0:02:04.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and here you can hear him speak in:
Dialogue: 0,0:02:04.27,0:02:05.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,German
Dialogue: 0,0:02:06.78,0:02:08.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and Portuguese.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:08.26,0:02:09.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And we also have Susana,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:09.75,0:02:12.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who goes through here:
Dialogue: 0,0:02:13.81,0:02:14.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Italian
Dialogue: 0,0:02:16.52,0:02:17.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Russian.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:18.76,0:02:21.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And a very impressive video I saw once
Dialogue: 0,0:02:21.78,0:02:26.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of this 16-year-old \Nfrom America called Tim,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:26.02,0:02:28.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,goes through 20 languages in one video,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:28.24,0:02:31.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and in this part here\Nyou can see him go through:
Dialogue: 0,0:02:32.74,0:02:34.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Wolof,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:38.14,0:02:38.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Yiddish,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:38.73,0:02:39.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Hebrew,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:39.80,0:02:41.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Arabic,\NTurkish,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:41.52,0:02:42.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Swahili
Dialogue: 0,0:02:44.25,0:02:46.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and Hindi.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:46.76,0:02:49.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So wow!
Dialogue: 0,0:02:49.26,0:02:52.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I met someone like this \Nand I was so impressed.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:52.75,0:02:55.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I thought to myself,\N"I want to be like that!"
Dialogue: 0,0:02:55.76,0:02:57.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the reason I wanted to be like that
Dialogue: 0,0:02:57.74,0:03:00.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is because I wanted people \Nto think I'm smart,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:00.07,0:03:01.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to be impressed with me,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:01.52,0:03:04.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I met this polyglot \Nat the start of my time in Spain
Dialogue: 0,0:03:04.51,0:03:07.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and with this very superficial motivation,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:07.28,0:03:10.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just because it will be cool\Nto learn a language,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:10.25,0:03:11.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I failed.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:11.75,0:03:14.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, what I discovered \Nafter those 6 months
Dialogue: 0,0:03:14.74,0:03:17.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is one of the biggest problems\Nwe have in language learning
Dialogue: 0,0:03:17.75,0:03:18.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but we don't know it,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:18.77,0:03:20.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that's motivation.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:20.75,0:03:24.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A lot of us start with the wrong \Nmotivation to learn a language.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:24.25,0:03:27.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We are learning the language\Njust to pass an exam,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:27.24,0:03:29.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to improve our career prospects
Dialogue: 0,0:03:29.77,0:03:31.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or, in my case,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:31.24,0:03:34.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for superficial reasons \Nto impress people.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:34.23,0:03:35.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And what I've found
Dialogue: 0,0:03:35.24,0:03:38.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that those polyglots\Nthat I've just shown in the video,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:38.28,0:03:39.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the reason they're learning the language
Dialogue: 0,0:03:39.75,0:03:42.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is because they're passionate\Nabout that language,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:42.88,0:03:46.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They're passionate about \Nthe literature, and the movies
Dialogue: 0,0:03:46.28,0:03:48.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and being able to read in a language
Dialogue: 0,0:03:48.25,0:03:51.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and of course to use it with people.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:51.25,0:03:55.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And when I changed that priority\Nof use in the language of people,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:55.52,0:03:59.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was able to learn \Nthe languages myself.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:59.75,0:04:02.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But there are a lot of things \Nthat people feel
Dialogue: 0,0:04:02.49,0:04:04.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,will not allow them to learn a language.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:04.50,0:04:06.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I want to go through...
Dialogue: 0,0:04:06.02,0:04:08.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think there's five, \NI asked a lot of people,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:08.00,0:04:11.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there's five major reasons\Nthey'd never get into language learning.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:11.78,0:04:14.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, let me go through some of these here.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:14.51,0:04:18.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The first is they've \Nno language gene or talent.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:19.85,0:04:22.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,No language gene or talent, well,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:22.54,0:04:24.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what does that mean?
Dialogue: 0,0:04:24.27,0:04:28.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I mean, sometimes this is actually \Njust a self-fullfilling prophecy.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:28.72,0:04:29.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In my case,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:29.78,0:04:31.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when I had to learn \Nthe language growing up,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:31.76,0:04:35.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or the six months \Nof failed learning Spanish,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:35.25,0:04:39.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it was just me telling myself,\N"I don't have the language gene,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:39.24,0:04:43.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so there's no point\Nin doing any work in the language."
Dialogue: 0,0:04:43.26,0:04:44.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because I didn't put the work in
Dialogue: 0,0:04:44.60,0:04:45.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I didn't learn the language,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:45.78,0:04:47.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's just a vicious circle,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:47.54,0:04:49.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's all in your head.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:49.74,0:04:51.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's no language gene,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:51.76,0:04:53.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we all have it already.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:53.75,0:04:56.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But let's just imagine \Nsome people who do better,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:56.75,0:04:58.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because we see it in school,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:58.27,0:05:01.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,people advance faster\Nthan the rest of the crowd.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:01.39,0:05:02.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So let's say there's some inborn trait
Dialogue: 0,0:05:02.98,0:05:06.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to give somebody 20% advantage \Nover the rest of the people.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:06.26,0:05:07.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Good for them!
Dialogue: 0,0:05:07.76,0:05:09.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But that doesn't mean that you can't,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:09.75,0:05:12.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it just means that you have \Nto work 20% harder.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:12.73,0:05:15.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I've found that, \Nat least in my case,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:15.28,0:05:19.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when I work harder, I can catch up \Nwith the naturally talented
Dialogue: 0,0:05:19.23,0:05:21.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and even overtake them.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:21.23,0:05:24.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, not having talent\Nis not a good excuse.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:25.75,0:05:27.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The next reason
Dialogue: 0,0:05:27.00,0:05:30.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that you are too old \Nto learn a second language.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:32.14,0:05:33.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I certainly felt this myself
Dialogue: 0,0:05:33.55,0:05:36.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because up to 21, \NI didn't learn a language,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:36.26,0:05:38.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and lots of us feel that children...
Dialogue: 0,0:05:38.76,0:05:42.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,their brains are hard wired\Nto learn languages better.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:43.75,0:05:46.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But is it really neurology at play here
Dialogue: 0,0:05:46.03,0:05:47.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or could it be the environment
Dialogue: 0,0:05:47.31,0:05:49.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in which the child \Nis learning the language?
Dialogue: 0,0:05:49.86,0:05:53.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, a study at the \NUniversity of Haifa in Israel
Dialogue: 0,0:05:53.26,0:05:56.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,actually found that \Nunder the right conditions,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:56.01,0:06:00.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,adults are better language\Nlearners than children.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:00.53,0:06:03.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's sound incredible\Nbut it's about your environment,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:03.98,0:06:05.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's about your motivation,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:05.26,0:06:07.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's about the enthusiasm \Nand encouragement
Dialogue: 0,0:06:07.26,0:06:08.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you get from other people.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:08.75,0:06:09.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And when you think of it,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:09.75,0:06:13.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,adults tend to be studying\Ndusty old grammar books
Dialogue: 0,0:06:13.00,0:06:15.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and doing boring exercises,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:15.02,0:06:18.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,while children are playing \Nin the language, having fun in it.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:18.25,0:06:21.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I found that when I changed this\Nto live through the language,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:21.78,0:06:25.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,not making it by studying the language,\Nbut living the language,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:25.74,0:06:28.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,then I was much more successful.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:28.23,0:06:30.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So you're not too old \Nto learn a language.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:30.51,0:06:33.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I've met people in their sixties\Nstarting to learn a language
Dialogue: 0,0:06:33.50,0:06:35.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and being successful with that.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:36.67,0:06:38.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The next excuse people would have,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:38.98,0:06:42.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that they can't travel \Nto the country right now.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:42.53,0:06:46.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, maybe 20 years ago\Nthis would have been a valid excuse
Dialogue: 0,0:06:46.27,0:06:48.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but nowadays \Nthe world is smaller than you think.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:48.99,0:06:50.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thanks to the internet,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:50.21,0:06:53.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we can connect with native speakers \Nfrom across the planet
Dialogue: 0,0:06:53.55,0:06:57.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you'll see that in a lot of cases,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:57.27,0:06:58.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they might want to learn your language,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:58.76,0:07:00.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then money is not even an issue,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:00.75,0:07:03.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because you teach them a little\Nand they teach you a little.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:04.50,0:07:07.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But even forgetting the internet\Nfor a moment,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:07.23,0:07:08.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a lot of us live in cities or towns
Dialogue: 0,0:07:08.74,0:07:12.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that are more international \Nthan what we think,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:12.22,0:07:14.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and when I was travelling in America,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:14.78,0:07:18.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I made it to Columbus, Ohio,\Nof all places,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:18.00,0:07:21.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to meet this very interesting polyglot \Ncalled Moses,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:21.05,0:07:23.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he does what he likes\Nto call "leveling up",
Dialogue: 0,0:07:23.56,0:07:25.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where he'll go to some public place
Dialogue: 0,0:07:25.50,0:07:28.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and just see if he can find \Nsome foreigners
Dialogue: 0,0:07:28.24,0:07:30.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and practice the language with them.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:30.24,0:07:34.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I joined him when \Nwe went to a mall in Columbus,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:34.28,0:07:37.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the two of us managed \Nto practice twelve languages,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:37.52,0:07:41.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and just here in this clip you can see\Nhe goes through:
Dialogue: 0,0:07:41.24,0:07:42.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Cantonese,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:44.52,0:07:45.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and here's Cambodian,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:47.26,0:07:50.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you can see that the guy \Nreally appreciated him trying.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:50.75,0:07:54.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, you can learn a language anywhere,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:54.77,0:07:56.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I wanted to push this to the limit,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:56.51,0:08:00.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in my most recent project\NI went to the middle of Brazil,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:00.50,0:08:01.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of all places,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:01.76,0:08:04.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to learn Egyptian Arabic.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:04.26,0:08:06.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I succeeded,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:06.26,0:08:08.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because even though \Nthere were no Egyptians around me,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:08.74,0:08:10.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I got on Skype
Dialogue: 0,0:08:10.00,0:08:12.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I talked for one or two hours a day
Dialogue: 0,0:08:12.51,0:08:15.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I managed \Nto go up towards conversation levels.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:15.26,0:08:16.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So no!
Dialogue: 0,0:08:16.28,0:08:21.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,not being able to travel to the country\Nis not a good excuse.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:21.24,0:08:23.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The next one people might give
Dialogue: 0,0:08:23.25,0:08:27.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that they've got bad memory\Nfor learning all the vocabulary.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:27.52,0:08:29.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this was certainly what I felt
Dialogue: 0,0:08:29.78,0:08:31.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because when I first \Ntried to learn Spanish,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:31.51,0:08:33.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I get a big list of words,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:33.27,0:08:34.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I tried to go through them
Dialogue: 0,0:08:34.75,0:08:36.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I forget them very quickly.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:37.24,0:08:40.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But research on memory capacity
Dialogue: 0,0:08:40.63,0:08:41.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,has found that
Dialogue: 0,0:08:41.54,0:08:47.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's better when you revise these words \Nwith the right frequency,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:47.54,0:08:49.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and there's this technique called
Dialogue: 0,0:08:49.04,0:08:50.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Spaced repetition",
Dialogue: 0,0:08:50.84,0:08:54.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where you revise the word
Dialogue: 0,0:08:54.01,0:08:55.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just before you'll forget it.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:55.51,0:08:58.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it looks something like \Nthis forgetting curve,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:58.74,0:09:00.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the red line is what typically happens
Dialogue: 0,0:09:00.88,0:09:03.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when you first see a word
Dialogue: 0,0:09:03.28,0:09:07.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but to get it into your head\Nand stuck there permanently
Dialogue: 0,0:09:07.51,0:09:09.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,then just review it to make sure it goes,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:09.52,0:09:12.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like review it one day later,\Nthen a week later
Dialogue: 0,0:09:12.75,0:09:14.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then a month later.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:14.28,0:09:17.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And there are apps in your Smartphone
Dialogue: 0,0:09:17.00,0:09:18.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and there's free programs \Nthat you can download
Dialogue: 0,0:09:18.79,0:09:21.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that help you time all of this.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:21.05,0:09:22.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that's great
Dialogue: 0,0:09:22.26,0:09:24.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but you can learn the words
Dialogue: 0,0:09:24.24,0:09:27.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,faster and better if you combine this
Dialogue: 0,0:09:27.51,0:09:30.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with an image association technique.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:30.24,0:09:32.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, for instance, let's say\NI wanted to learn
Dialogue: 0,0:09:32.26,0:09:36.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that the Spanish word for\N"to fit" is "caber".
Dialogue: 0,0:09:36.50,0:09:38.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, what if I imagine then
Dialogue: 0,0:09:38.75,0:09:43.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that's barely possible\Nto fit a bear in a cab?
Dialogue: 0,0:09:43.41,0:09:47.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Cab-bear" it's "caber", it's "to fit".
Dialogue: 0,0:09:47.03,0:09:49.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So you do this for a lot of words
Dialogue: 0,0:09:49.28,0:09:51.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it actually gets \Nvery easy with time
Dialogue: 0,0:09:51.04,0:09:53.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you can learn vocabulary instantly.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:53.76,0:09:57.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So no, having a bad memory \Nis not a good excuse.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:00.02,0:10:01.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Next,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:01.28,0:10:03.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I think the most important one
Dialogue: 0,0:10:03.49,0:10:04.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that the people always say,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:04.52,0:10:08.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that they're going \Nto frustrate native speakers.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:08.24,0:10:10.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this is just so not true.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:11.74,0:10:14.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I've been to many places, \NI've spoken to many people
Dialogue: 0,0:10:14.52,0:10:16.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and every time\NI attempt to use their language,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:16.76,0:10:19.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they're overjoyed, they're so pleased
Dialogue: 0,0:10:19.49,0:10:21.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that I'm even trying!
Dialogue: 0,0:10:22.25,0:10:25.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I just feel like, especially adults,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:25.90,0:10:28.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when we learn a language,\Nwe are such perfectionists,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:28.28,0:10:30.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we want everything to be just right,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:30.78,0:10:35.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and perfectionism is a really \Nbad thing in language learning,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:35.02,0:10:37.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because a language \Nis a means of communication,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:37.51,0:10:40.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's a way to get to know \Nnew people and new cultures,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:40.78,0:10:42.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and when you embrace this,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:42.44,0:10:44.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's okay to make mistakes!
Dialogue: 0,0:10:44.56,0:10:48.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I actually have a goal\Nto make at least 200 mistakes a day
Dialogue: 0,0:10:48.75,0:10:50.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because then I know \NI'm getting somewhere,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:50.42,0:10:52.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm using the language!
Dialogue: 0,0:10:52.09,0:10:53.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So embarrass yourself,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:53.76,0:10:55.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,go out there, talk to people
Dialogue: 0,0:10:55.25,0:10:56.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's okay.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:56.52,0:10:58.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When do you think \NI was learning a language better:
Dialogue: 0,0:10:59.74,0:11:00.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,here?
Dialogue: 0,0:11:01.74,0:11:02.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or here?
Dialogue: 0,0:11:02.94,0:11:05.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:11:05.68,0:11:09.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, anyone can indeed learn a language
Dialogue: 0,0:11:09.24,0:11:10.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when you use it with people,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:10.100,0:11:13.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it's okay to use it early,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:14.50,0:11:16.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this is so important,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:16.02,0:11:17.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that you don't have to wait
Dialogue: 0,0:11:17.25,0:11:20.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,until you speak the language perfectly \Nand fluently and so on.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:20.80,0:11:23.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You can get into it\Nsooner than you'd expect
Dialogue: 0,0:11:23.77,0:11:28.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it opens up so many doors\Nto these other cultures.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:28.26,0:11:29.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So for instance,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:29.25,0:11:31.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,after I'd learned that Arabic in Brazil,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:31.77,0:11:33.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I made it to Egypt
Dialogue: 0,0:11:33.25,0:11:36.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I made all the way deep \Ninto the Sahara desert,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:36.04,0:11:38.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I sat down in the sand with an Egyptian
Dialogue: 0,0:11:38.51,0:11:39.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we had some tea,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:39.53,0:11:41.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we had this nice little chat here:
Dialogue: 0,0:11:41.27,0:11:44.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(In Arabic)
Dialogue: 0,0:11:44.74,0:11:48.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(In Arabic)
Dialogue: 0,0:11:48.77,0:11:50.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and there I'm just saying that
Dialogue: 0,0:11:50.76,0:11:53.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Egypt is so much, so vast, so great,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:53.77,0:11:57.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's so much more\Nthat just Tahrir Square in Cairo.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:57.25,0:11:59.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And, now when I was speaking with him,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:59.76,0:12:01.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I used the wrong word here and there
Dialogue: 0,0:12:01.76,0:12:04.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I conjugated the wrong verb\Nevery now and again,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:04.73,0:12:05.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but that's okay,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:05.76,0:12:08.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because even with\Nthis conversation level,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:08.24,0:12:10.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I had this fascinating \Nconversation with him.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:10.75,0:12:13.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I've done this with \Nother cultures and other languages
Dialogue: 0,0:12:13.48,0:12:15.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I even managed to learn \Na little American sign language.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:15.75,0:12:18.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And here you can see \NJuliana had asked me
Dialogue: 0,0:12:18.79,0:12:20.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,why I didn't learn Irish sign language,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:20.76,0:12:22.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I said, because when I'm in Ireland
Dialogue: 0,0:12:22.50,0:12:25.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I like to improve my Irish \Nand my Gaelic
Dialogue: 0,0:12:25.26,0:12:26.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which I can then speak here:
Dialogue: 0,0:12:26.76,0:12:31.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(In Irish)
Dialogue: 0,0:12:31.75,0:12:34.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so that was me on Irish radio
Dialogue: 0,0:12:34.53,0:12:36.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,saying about my travels and whatever,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:36.51,0:12:40.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I learned Irish \Nfor ten years in school
Dialogue: 0,0:12:40.27,0:12:43.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I wasn't able to say \Nthe most basic phrases after that.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:43.77,0:12:45.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But as an adult,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:45.26,0:12:46.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I went back to Ireland
Dialogue: 0,0:12:46.75,0:12:50.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I embraced using \Nthe language as a beginner.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:50.26,0:12:52.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that helped me to reach this stage.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:52.77,0:12:54.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it's okay to be a beginner,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:54.50,0:12:56.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's okay to be conversational,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:56.74,0:12:58.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but when you take this on,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:58.74,0:13:00.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you take it to the next level,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:00.76,0:13:02.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,then you can reach very well.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:02.27,0:13:04.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I mean, I've got \Na very good level in French,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:04.50,0:13:05.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Spanish and acouple of languages.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:05.75,0:13:07.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I've worked as a professional translator
Dialogue: 0,0:13:07.76,0:13:09.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like here I'm having a chat in French:
Dialogue: 0,0:13:09.77,0:13:13.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(In French)
Dialogue: 0,0:13:13.39,0:13:15.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that's great, \Nthat's what everybody thinks of
Dialogue: 0,0:13:15.46,0:13:17.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when they're getting\Ninto language learning,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:17.06,0:13:18.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they think, "That's what I want to be,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:18.25,0:13:20.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I want to be at this \Nvery high professional level,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:20.23,0:13:23.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,have deep philosophical conversations."
Dialogue: 0,0:13:23.10,0:13:24.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that's fantastic
Dialogue: 0,0:13:24.51,0:13:27.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and yeah, it's impressive\Nwhen you see people like that.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:27.02,0:13:28.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But rather than be impressive,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:28.50,0:13:29.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think it's so much better
Dialogue: 0,0:13:29.63,0:13:32.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when you embrace the beginning stage\Nof language learning.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:32.51,0:13:35.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And one of the most \Namazing experiences I've had,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:35.26,0:13:37.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was when I was in China, on the train,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:37.76,0:13:40.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at 2000 kilometers deep into China,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:40.50,0:13:43.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I had a basic conversation\Nof "What's your name?"
Dialogue: 0,0:13:43.01,0:13:45.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it turns out \NI was given my Chinese name
Dialogue: 0,0:13:45.78,0:13:47.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there on the train,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:47.06,0:13:48.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and look, this is how it went:
Dialogue: 0,0:13:48.38,0:13:49.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(In Chinese)
Dialogue: 0,0:13:49.74,0:13:51.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"What's your name?"
Dialogue: 0,0:13:51.49,0:13:52.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"I'm Benny."
Dialogue: 0,0:13:52.78,0:13:54.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(In Chinese)
Dialogue: 0,0:13:54.76,0:13:56.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"I don't have a Chinese name."
Dialogue: 0,0:13:56.77,0:13:58.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then (unclear),
Dialogue: 0,0:13:58.52,0:14:02.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,says, \N"I tell you your name is Pun Li."
Dialogue: 0,0:14:02.26,0:14:04.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because this sounds \Nlike your normal name
Dialogue: 0,0:14:04.78,0:14:08.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it means ability or skill.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:08.13,0:14:10.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And you know,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:10.10,0:14:11.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just, I can have that conversation,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:11.75,0:14:14.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,even with a basic conversation\Nlevel of Chinese.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:14.75,0:14:16.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I do have the ability,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:16.25,0:14:17.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I do have the skill to learn a language.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:17.75,0:14:20.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I always did,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:20.07,0:14:21.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we all always do.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:21.75,0:14:24.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the reason I have this skill
Dialogue: 0,0:14:24.10,0:14:27.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is not because I was born\Nwith it and others weren't,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:27.28,0:14:30.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's a decision I made.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:30.24,0:14:32.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the problem a lot of us face
Dialogue: 0,0:14:32.74,0:14:35.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that we feel that \Nwe're better studying
Dialogue: 0,0:14:35.24,0:14:38.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and preparing for speaking \Na language some day,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:38.22,0:14:40.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because if we do it too early
Dialogue: 0,0:14:40.04,0:14:42.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the world will end \Nfrom all this frustration
Dialogue: 0,0:14:42.53,0:14:44.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we cause people.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:44.21,0:14:46.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There are seven days in a week
Dialogue: 0,0:14:46.24,0:14:49.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and some day is not one of them.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:49.24,0:14:53.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I say, rather than see \Nif the world will end,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:53.51,0:14:57.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a whole new world will begin\Nif you try to learn a new language.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:57.50,0:14:58.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I hope you'll give it a try.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:58.96,0:14:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:59.99,0:15:02.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)