Challenge B: Substantive Post

For my educational video, I chose one that connects directly to a challenge I am currently facing: learning a new language. I came across a very motivating TED Talk by Lýdia Machová, a polyglot who shared strategies that have helped her and others succeed in learning languages. In the video, she explained that there is no “special language gene,” despite the common belief that some people are just not “language learners.” Often I find myself getting into that negative mindset, so I found it very helpful to hear from someone who is successful in many languages.

One example she shared for learning was re-watching a familiar show, but this time in the language you are learning. This resonated with me because this method sounded like a form of multimedia learning. I specifically found it to connect with the dual coding theory. In this theory, it is proposed that our brain uses two systems, one for verbal input and one for visual input. By combining both channels, we increase our cognitive capacity to learn and retain information. Watching a show in another language offers both verbal stimuli (dialogue) and non-verbal stimuli (actions, expressions, and context), which can make the learning process more effective. Ultimately, her explained method tied in with the multimedia learning theory, and made me understand how a simple task like watching a show could support deeper learning.

From this video, I took away practical methods that I can apply to my own language learning. My next attempt will be to watch The Office, a show I’ve seen way too many times. Hopefully, I will be successful and feel more motivated to continue my journey of learning!

Reference:

Machová, L. (January 24, 2019). The secrets of learning a new language [Video]. TED. https://www.ted.com/talks/lydia_machova_the_secrets_of_learning_a_new_language