How to Talk Like a Native Speaker | Marc Green | TEDxHeidelberg

Summary

In this engaging talk, the speaker shares a personal story about exploring Moscow at 15, getting lost in the metro, and learning the importance of understanding local languages. This experience sparked a passion for language learning, leading to fluency in four additional languages. The speaker emphasizes the significance of pronunciation, cultural adaptation, and using local expressions to achieve near-native fluency. Practical tips include immersive experiences, practicing with native speakers, and learning through music and media. The talk ends on a humorous note with the speaker’s marriage to a Russian woman, overcoming his fear of Russian.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The speaker recounts a story of exploring Moscow as a 15-year-old during a trip to the Soviet Union in 1987, just before the fall of the communist regime.
• 😅 A humorous mistake occurred when they miswrote the Russian word for 'Exit' instead of the metro station name, causing confusion when trying to return to their hotel.
• 🚕 They encountered challenges like negotiating with a taxi driver who demanded US dollars instead of rubles, which they could not afford, leaving them stranded but near their hotel.
• 🗣 The speaker discusses their experiences with language learning and emphasizes the importance of understanding local languages while traveling, which eventually led them to learn four more languages fluently.
• 💬 The speaker highlights that fluency in a language is achieved when more than 50% of language concepts become subconscious, allowing easy recall even after long periods of disuse.
• 🗝 Fluency is described as reaching a point where one is comfortable thinking and communicating in a language, though achieving mastery requires significantly more effort and time.
• 👂 Eliminating or minimizing accents is seen as a crucial step to being perceived as a native speaker, as it affects how natives behave toward learners and aids in forming a new identity in the language.
• 📚 The speaker stresses the importance of learning local expressions, idioms, and cultural nuances, as they differ significantly from what is taught in textbooks.
• 🎶 Using methods like the 'perfect-sentence technique' for accent improvement, watching TV shows, learning song lyrics, and interacting with native speakers are recommended strategies for language immersion.
• 💡 The speaker concludes by sharing how their fear of the Russian language was overcome through marrying a Russian woman, which led to regular exposure to Russian via their children.

Q & A

What was the speaker's experience in Moscow in 1987?

The speaker, at 15 years old, was part of a group visiting the Soviet Union. One evening, he and his friend snuck out to explore Moscow. They ventured into the metro system, only to realize they had written down the Russian word for 'Exit' instead of the station name, which led to some confusion. They eventually found their hotel after trying to take a taxi, which demanded dollars instead of rubles.

What lesson did the speaker learn from his Moscow adventure?

The speaker learned the importance of understanding the local language when traveling. This experience inspired him to learn four more languages fluently over the following years.

How did the speaker’s bilingual upbringing influence his language learning journey?

The speaker was raised by a German-speaking mother and an American father, which gave him a head start in language learning. By age two, he realized women spoke only German and men spoke only English, which helped him understand the distinction between languages. Being bilingual also provided him with two identities and allowed him to switch between them.

What analogy does the speaker use to describe language learning, and what does it signify?

The speaker compares language learning to a deck of playing cards lying facedown. As one learns a language, cards are gradually turned over, representing milestones. When about 50% of the cards are turned over, fluency is achieved, meaning the language becomes part of one's subconscious.

According to the speaker, what is the key to achieving fluency in a foreign language?

Fluency is achieved when the language becomes part of your subconscious, allowing you to think and communicate comfortably. It requires consistent practice with the material, and while methods like spaced learning apps can help, there's no shortcut to reaching fluency.

Why does the speaker believe pronunciation is critical in language learning?

The speaker emphasizes that eliminating or minimizing one’s accent is crucial because it changes how native speakers unconsciously behave towards you. It also allows for adapting to a new self-image and makes language learning more effective.

What technique does the speaker recommend for improving pronunciation?

The speaker recommends the 'perfect-sentence technique,' where a learner reads a sentence from a foreign language book, asks a native speaker to rate their accent, and repeats the sentence until the native speaker hears no accent. This process, though slow, helps greatly in improving pronunciation.

Why is learning colloquial expressions important according to the speaker?

Learning colloquial expressions is essential because native speakers often use words and phrases not found in textbooks. This helps learners sound more natural and communicate more effectively with locals.

What role does cultural adaptation play in mastering a language?

Cultural adaptation involves adopting cultural traits, gestures, and even sounds unique to the language's speakers. By understanding these subtleties, a language learner can further integrate into the community and communicate more authentically.

How does the speaker suggest learners immerse themselves in a new language if they cannot live abroad?

The speaker suggests engaging with native speakers in one's hometown, having a romantic relationship with a native speaker, or spending time with coworkers. Additionally, learners should watch TV shows, mimic characters, practice lyrics of songs, and immerse themselves in the target culture through media and music.