Language learning is important. Loads of kids are taking languages other than English (or LOTE). Lots of people are teaching them.
But for all that, we’re just not learning them. So why not? Are we doing it wrong? Not starting early enough? Or is it the culture of language learning in English-speaking countries? More importantly, how do we fix it?
Language teacher Annie Demosthenous chats with Daniel, Ben, and Kylie on this episode of Talk the Talk.
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Cutting Room Floor
We talk about baby-proofing a house. (Doesn’t work; they get in anyway.) Speaking of babies: Ben had a seasonal brush with nature.
Does everyone hate the Doors? Are non-native speakers rolling their eyes every time an English speaker speaks?
Most importantly, we extend our discussion with Annie, discussing a few key ideas that we didn’t have time for in the main show.
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Show notes
Negative campaign: Votes sought for most disliked English word
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/aug/25/negative-campaign-votes-sought-for-most-disliked-english-word
Oxford Dictionaries’ campaign to find most hated English word scrapped
http://www.newkerala.com/news/2016/fullnews-111238.html
Now we’ll never know what the English language’s least favourite word is
http://www.aol.co.uk/news/2016/08/27/now-well-never-know-what-the-english-languages-least-favourite-word-is/
Offensive language ruins search for world’s worst word
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-37197699
#OneWordMap: mapping the world’s least favourite words
“Update: We regret to inform users that due to severe misuse we have had to remove this feature from our website.”
http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2016/08/one-word-map-least-favourite-word/#
Part 1: Why LOTE is having trouble
Fewer students are taking languages
https://blogs.crikey.com.au/fullysic/2016/06/15/solve-australias-language-learning-crisis/
Schools are cutting back
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/diplomatic-tensions-as-italian-and-greek-phased-out-of-school-20160805-gqlwpf.html
It’s difficult to teach LOTE anyway, with students get 1 hour a week.
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/teachers-know-dripfed-languages-fail-to-take-hold-20121102-28pms.html
We don’t have a culture of language learning in English-speaking countries
http://neoskosmos.com/news/en/Challenging-Australias-monolingual-mindset
What’s the big deal? Everyone speaks English
https://theconversation.com/why-native-english-speakers-fail-to-be-understood-in-english-and-lose-out-in-global-business-54436
Part 2: How to fix it
Should we be getting students to speak their home language (if they have one), instead of making everyone choose Indonesian or French?
https://theconversation.com/how-we-kill-languages-and-fail-our-cleverest-children-29137
How about dual-language programmes?
http://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/dual-language-books-bridge-culture-language-for-english-learners-in-edmonton
How about language nests?
https://theconversation.com/language-nests-a-way-to-revive-indigenous-languages-at-risk-19824
Just making language learning compulsory?
https://theconversation.com/how-to-make-australia-more-bilingual-42609
What Is The Millennial Whoop? Once You Hear This Virulent Pop Hook You Won’t Be Able To Unhear It
http://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/what-is-the-millennial-whoop-songs
“The Millennial Whoop”: The same annoying whooping sound is showing up in every popular song
http://qz.com/767812/millennial-whoop/
The Millennial Whoop: the melodic hook that’s taken over pop music
https://www.theguardian.com/music/shortcuts/2016/aug/30/millennial-whoop-pop-music
You might not know what the Millennial Whoop is but you have definitely heard it
http://www.capetalk.co.za/articles/16330/you-might-not-know-what-the-millennial-whoop-is-but-you-have-definitely-heard-it
The millennial whoop: the key to modern pop
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p046j43s
Best Classical Tunes: Search with a virtual piano
http://bestclassicaltunes.com/DictionaryPiano.aspx
Image credit: https://theconversation.com/from-hawke-to-turnbull-asian-language-learning-in-decline-47163
Transcript
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