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.  Don’t forget that Patrons get the ad-free version of the show as well as swag and other perks. And we’ll keep our Facebook, Twitter, and LINE accounts active so you can send us comments, questions, or whatever you want to share.