Today we listen to a conversation that we recorded in Italy with my sister- and brother-in-law as we discuss what it means to be in another country, trying to speak a new language. We talk about leaving your whole self behind to try to embody the new language, not just ‘learn an accent’. We also talk about how your personality might be affecting how well you’re absorbing English as you study among native speakers.
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Show Notes:
- The best ways to learn a language and to sound native
- David and I and my sister and brother-in-law discuss what it feels like to be a non-native speaker
- On leaving your whole self behind and trying to embody a new language, and letting inhibitions go to start sounding more native when imitating
- How it’s easier to really throw yourself into imitating and leaving yourself behind, taking yourself less seriously
- About absorbing the accent and colloquialisms of the people you’re around
- The difference between ‘textbook’ Spanish (or English) and the way native speakers actually use that language.
- What do you learn when you’re hanging out with native speakers, rather than “studying” the language?
- How your personality might be affecting how well you’re absorbing the language (outgoing vs. shy), and how taking on a persona can help.
- Getting comfortable with discomfort
- How do actors get so good at switching accents? Is it because they are developing a character, not just an accent?
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