Introduction to the topic How babies learn languages) Pre-listening reflection (or discussion Content 1. What do you remember of your very first lesson in English 2. Do you remember learning your mother tongue What are your strongest memories of mother tongue lessons at primary school 3. What do you believe is the best age for learning a foreign language Why do you think that If you can, discuss those questions with another student. If not, think about what your answers would be. The lecturer Professor Patricia Kuhl is Co-Director of the University of Washington Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences, and Professor of Speech and Hearing Sciences. She is internationally recognized for her research on early language and brain development, and studies that show how young children learn. Her work has played a major role in demonstrating how early exposure to language alters the brain. It has implications for critical periods in development, for bilingual education, and for research on computer understanding of speech.
