Hey there! In this podcast we are learning about the remarkably interesting topic of learning a new language. Play it while you are cooking or doing chores around the house and try answering the questions. Don’t worry if you don’t understand, there is a transcript where you can read and listen at the same time!

The vocabulary you might want to look up in this podcast is:

The answers are at the bottom

Click here for the transcript!

Questions for the podcast:

1. In the beginning, the host plays a family video. Whose family is it?
2. What holiday are they celebrating in the home video?
3. What two languages do the Kwong family speak?
4. What is Emily Kwong trying to do?
5. What is Sarah Phillips’ job?
6. What fields is bilingualism studied?
7. What is another name for “baby bilingual”?
8. What is the critical period hypothesis?
9. What happens if baby zebra finches are separated from their parents for too long.
10. Do scientists agree or disagree with the critical period hypothesis? Why?
11. Why is it harder to learn a new language when you are older?
12. What factors besides your age affect language learning?
13. What big advantage do children have when learning a language?
14. Do the speakers think native pronunciation is important? Why?

Extra Discussion Questions:

1. Would you like to learn another language besides English?
2. The author says that native pronunciation is not important. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
3. Emily Kwong is Asian-American and doesn’t speak Chinese. Do you think she should or is to OK not to speak your heritage language?
4. Are you working hard to learn a new language? In what ways?

Answers to the Podcast Questions:

1. It is a Kwong family video.
2. They are celebrating Easter.
3. They speak English and Chinese.
4. She is trying to learn Mandaring Chinese.
5. She is a neurolinguist.
6. It is studied in linguistics, psychology, and cognitive neuroscience.
7. Another name for that is “developing bilingual”.
8. It’s an old theory that says that you can only become fluent in another language when you are young.
9. They can’t produce the same songs when they are adults.
10. They disagree with it because after puberty your brain continues to build neurological connections.
11. Because adults have already developed certain habits and habits are hard to break.
12. Educational exposure and the chance to practice in a community.
13. Pronunciation is a lot easier for children.
14. No, they say it is not important, because the way you speak is part of your experiences and your personality. It’s more important to be understood.

Download the Questions and Answers:

If you want to check more listening practice exercises, click here!