Multilingualism is more important than ever in an increasingly interconnected world: languages are important for study, work, art, international diplomacy, and collaboration. Understanding how our linguistic mind guides the process of learning a new language is essential for improving our teaching.
Dr. Dora Alexopoulou (MEC Fellow in Linguistics) presents how learning activities that reflect the ways that learners' native language influences second language learning can make a real difference. As well as being a Fellow at the College, Dora is a researcher at Cambridge University and currently the PI of the EF Education First Research Lab for Applied Language Learning. She works with large datasets from online learning platforms to investigate learning from different linguistic, educational and cultural backgrounds. She is the co-founder of the Cambridge Bilingualism Network and founding Editor of Languages, Society and Policy.
This talk was given at a TEDxCambridgeUniversity using the TED conference format but independently organised by a local community.