0:00:09.713,0:00:13.466
Learning a language can feel[br]a bit like rocket science,

0:00:13.467,0:00:16.318
something out of this world[br]and out of reach

0:00:16.320,0:00:18.290
for the vast majority of us.

0:00:19.490,0:00:24.739
This isn't a belief, however, just held by[br]many English monolinguals on our island.

0:00:24.740,0:00:27.454
It's also shared[br]by many of our linguistic cousins

0:00:27.455,0:00:31.705
further afield, say,[br]in the United States or Australia.

0:00:32.785,0:00:34.421
Let's be honest:

0:00:34.422,0:00:36.971
when it comes to learning languages[br]or speaking them,

0:00:36.972,0:00:39.155
we are the kind of people[br]that likes to think

0:00:39.156,0:00:42.223
we're fluent in a multitude[br]of diverse languages

0:00:42.224,0:00:48.068
such as Geordie, Kiwi, Cockney,[br]or what about Canadian?

0:00:48.978,0:00:50.220
Don't get me wrong.

0:00:50.221,0:00:53.490
I'm very, very proud[br]of my Mancunian heritage,

0:00:53.491,0:00:57.342
but I wouldn't suggest[br]it's a separate language just yet.

0:00:57.343,0:00:59.603
After all, we don't need subtitles

0:00:59.604,0:01:02.261
when we are watching[br]Coronation Street, now do we?

0:01:02.262,0:01:04.730
Although I can see you two saying, "I do."

0:01:04.732,0:01:06.256
(Laughter)

0:01:06.257,0:01:11.527
Yet, despite this, if you were[br]to cross the Channel,

0:01:11.530,0:01:14.479
or say, if you're feeling[br]slightly more adventurous,

0:01:14.480,0:01:17.265
cross the Severn Estuary into Wales,

0:01:17.266,0:01:18.711
there you would find

0:01:18.712,0:01:25.023
that speaking another language[br]or being bilingual is simply a reality.

0:01:26.233,0:01:29.510
Yet, there and further afield,

0:01:29.511,0:01:31.740
many are still convinced of the fact

0:01:31.741,0:01:36.304
this is a long, challenging,[br]somewhat painful,

0:01:36.305,0:01:39.016
and dare I say, daunting task.

0:01:39.716,0:01:42.967
In this room of 100 people,

0:01:42.968,0:01:48.611
I'd guess that at least 15 other languages[br]are spoken besides English.

0:01:49.201,0:01:55.958
In fact, the last census of 2011 revealed[br]that a staggering 22% of Londoners -

0:01:55.959,0:01:59.195
that's 22%, one in four, almost -

0:01:59.196,0:02:03.096
speak another language at home[br]apart from English.

0:02:03.756,0:02:08.996
I myself, even as a Mancunian,[br]speak approximately 20 languages,

0:02:09.007,0:02:12.057
and of those,[br]around half I speak fluently.

0:02:12.058,0:02:17.726
And the question I get asked[br]by people the most is, "Why?"

0:02:17.727,0:02:19.187
(Laughter)

0:02:20.467,0:02:25.762
Well, the answer, for me[br]at least, is rather simple.

0:02:25.763,0:02:26.922
I'm convinced

0:02:26.923,0:02:33.042
learning languages, any language[br]per Se, is actually easy.

0:02:33.043,0:02:36.042
And I want to show you how.

0:02:37.642,0:02:40.424
As a linguist, a polyglot, and a lecturer,

0:02:40.425,0:02:44.735
I know what it entails[br]to learn and study a language.

0:02:44.736,0:02:46.487
And one of the biggest obstacles

0:02:46.488,0:02:49.727
we're faced [with][br]when learning are myths.

0:02:49.728,0:02:53.433
And I genuinely believe[br]that we have to debunk them.

0:02:54.983,0:02:58.247
In order to remember[br]these more effectively,

0:02:58.248,0:03:02.510
I came up with the nice[br]and friendly sounding acronym D.I.E.

0:03:02.511,0:03:03.841
(Laughter)

0:03:03.841,0:03:07.526
which funnily enough, if you write it out[br]not pronounce, if you write it out,

0:03:07.527,0:03:09.624
it's one of the words for 'the' in German.

0:03:09.625,0:03:15.089
Myth number one: learning a language[br]is simply too difficult.

0:03:15.090,0:03:17.711
I will never be able to[br]speak another language

0:03:17.712,0:03:20.581
quite like the language I was born with.

0:03:20.582,0:03:24.743
Technically, you're not born[br]with a language.

0:03:24.744,0:03:28.733
All of us here could have ended up,[br]with say, Japanese as our first language.

0:03:28.734,0:03:32.340
We were simply surrounded[br]or immersed in the language

0:03:32.341,0:03:35.477
generally from a very early age.

0:03:35.478,0:03:39.564
There are people, however,[br]out there - many of them, in fact -

0:03:39.565,0:03:43.360
who started to learn a language,[br]the second or maybe even the third,

0:03:43.361,0:03:44.930
much later on in life.

0:03:44.931,0:03:46.677
And guess what?

0:03:46.678,0:03:50.747
They're now completely fluent[br]in this language or these other languages

0:03:50.748,0:03:55.236
even perhaps more so[br]than in their so-called mother tongue.

0:03:55.237,0:03:57.253
Why is this?

0:03:57.254,0:03:59.624
Because there is no cutoff date

0:03:59.625,0:04:03.511
by which you have to have learned[br]another language.

0:04:03.961,0:04:06.517
Think about how many people[br]you know who say,

0:04:06.518,0:04:10.734
"Ugh! My kids are doing French in school.[br]I really want them to become fluent.

0:04:10.735,0:04:13.501
But I can't, no way, it's impossible.

0:04:13.502,0:04:17.163
I should've simply paid more attention[br]when I was at school."

0:04:17.933,0:04:19.918
Well, studies reveal

0:04:19.920,0:04:22.749
that whilst children[br]generally are much faster

0:04:22.750,0:04:25.885
at picking up a new language[br]than people older than them,

0:04:25.886,0:04:29.658
it's actually us - you can just[br]breathe as a sign of relief -

0:04:29.659,0:04:34.101
It's us, the adults, who are[br]more effective at learning them.

0:04:34.102,0:04:35.844
Why is this?

0:04:36.014,0:04:40.126
Because we have[br]the experience of learning.

0:04:40.127,0:04:42.407
We know how to learn already.

0:04:43.537,0:04:47.786
Myth number two:[br]languages are simply irrelevant.

0:04:47.787,0:04:51.738
I don't need to learn[br]another language at all.

0:04:51.739,0:04:54.277
And as we hear,[br]and unfortunately hear quite a lot -

0:04:54.278,0:04:57.294
I was going to do in a cockney accent,[br]but I won't do it at all.

0:04:57.295,0:04:59.903
I'll spare myself[br]the embarrassment of doing that -

0:04:59.904,0:05:03.508
languages ...[br]everyone speaks English, anyway.

0:05:03.509,0:05:07.183
Well, besides the obvious benefits[br]of speaking another language -

0:05:07.184,0:05:11.257
for example, financial benefits[br]and mental benefits,

0:05:11.258,0:05:16.125
i.e., better pay, more job opportunities,[br]keeping us mentally fit,

0:05:16.126,0:05:20.249
and actually helping to stave off[br]neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's-

0:05:20.250,0:05:21.955
there are real hidden gems

0:05:21.956,0:05:25.095
we can discover[br]when we speak another language.

0:05:25.096,0:05:28.652
How about getting an upgrade[br]on your hotel room,

0:05:28.653,0:05:32.653
as was recently the case with my uncle[br]before going to Turkey on holiday?

0:05:32.653,0:05:34.382
He asked me if I could send him over

0:05:34.383,0:05:36.461
a few phrases and greetings[br]in the language

0:05:36.462,0:05:38.901
that he could try out in the hotel.

0:05:38.902,0:05:42.045
Turns up, caught over this suitcase,

0:05:42.046,0:05:45.305
throws out a few sentences in Turkish,

0:05:45.306,0:05:49.455
and bam!, he's given an upgrade[br]on his hotel room straight away.

0:05:49.456,0:05:50.935
(Laughter)

0:05:50.936,0:05:53.722
You might not always get[br]an upgrade on your hotel room.

0:05:53.723,0:05:55.135
I can't promise you this.

0:05:55.136,0:05:58.594
However, I can promise[br]that you maybe just maybe,

0:05:58.595,0:06:02.478
through another language,[br]will meet the love of your life.

0:06:02.948,0:06:07.550
We all remember Jamie from Love Actually[br]learning Portuguese for Aurélia.

0:06:08.090,0:06:09.357
And in fact,

0:06:09.358,0:06:12.607
almost one in ten Brits[br]is married to someone

0:06:12.608,0:06:14.455
who was born overseas.

0:06:16.015,0:06:18.732
Furthermore, the Guardian[br]reported on research

0:06:18.733,0:06:22.012
showing that people who are able to[br]speak two languages or more

0:06:22.013,0:06:27.726
better adapt or are better equipped[br]at dealing with problems,

0:06:27.727,0:06:30.976
than they're better at multitasking[br]and prioritizing tasks.

0:06:30.977,0:06:34.966
This is definitely a much[br]sought-after skill in our day and age

0:06:34.967,0:06:38.172
when all of us appeared[br]to be glued to our phones.

0:06:38.173,0:06:40.539
I wonder how many people now[br]who're watching this

0:06:40.540,0:06:42.399
will be glued to their phones,

0:06:42.400,0:06:45.208
and how many are[br]actually going to bilingual?

0:06:46.368,0:06:48.825
Myth number three:

0:06:48.826,0:06:54.435
you have to be an expert and be in a place[br]where the language is constantly spoken,

0:06:54.436,0:06:57.834
even to just get a grasp of the language.

0:06:58.494,0:07:01.111
There's no harm in simply packing up

0:07:01.112,0:07:03.446
and moving to a village[br]in the middle of nowhere,

0:07:03.447,0:07:06.026
but it's not actually necessary.

0:07:06.027,0:07:10.943
Now the great unknown: my brother and I -[br]I'll leave you to decide who's who;

0:07:10.944,0:07:12.794
he's actually my twin brother -

0:07:13.904,0:07:16.530
my brother and I whilst being based[br]in Berlin, Germany,

0:07:16.531,0:07:21.080
decided to undertake the challenge[br]of learning Turkish in just seven days.

0:07:21.081,0:07:25.037
We decided to undertake the challenge[br]of learning Turkish in just seven days

0:07:25.038,0:07:28.838
in order to show what you can do[br]by simply putting your mind to it.

0:07:29.534,0:07:30.575
I'm not saying

0:07:30.576,0:07:33.815
we all need to be going out there[br]and learning a language in a week

0:07:33.816,0:07:35.408
nor that it's actually possible

0:07:35.409,0:07:39.487
to learn absolutely everything there is[br]in such a short space of time.

0:07:39.488,0:07:41.990
I can assure you, it isn't.

0:07:41.991,0:07:45.344
Perfection isn't the goal here.

0:07:45.345,0:07:48.972
The goal, however, is to get[br]as good as we possibly can

0:07:48.973,0:07:53.064
in a particular language,[br]in the shortest time possible.

0:07:53.065,0:07:54.458
This means

0:07:54.459,0:07:58.068
to the dismay of school teachers[br]all throughout the globe,

0:07:58.069,0:08:00.259
"Take shortcuts."

0:08:01.249,0:08:03.074
The best thing about these shortcuts

0:08:03.075,0:08:06.200
is we can apply them to any language[br]that we would like to learn.

0:08:06.201,0:08:11.146
And furthermore, they're so simple,[br]you might be left thinking at the end,

0:08:11.147,0:08:13.648
"Why didn't I think of that?"

0:08:13.748,0:08:16.497
So let's take a look at these shortcuts.

0:08:16.917,0:08:23.479
Number one: analyze the similarities,[br]focus on similar elements.

0:08:23.480,0:08:24.709
As speakers of English,

0:08:24.710,0:08:27.444
we already know so much[br]about other languages,

0:08:27.445,0:08:31.534
given the fact that our language itself,[br]essentially, is a Germanic language

0:08:31.535,0:08:34.533
with the wealth[br]of influences and vocabulary

0:08:34.534,0:08:40.929
from a multitude of different languages[br]as diverse as Latin, Hebrew, or Hindi.

0:08:41.529,0:08:45.230
Doing this will help develop[br]patterns in the language

0:08:45.231,0:08:50.725
and also will help us to guess the meaning[br]and formation of words and things

0:08:50.726,0:08:52.390
that we don't yet know.

0:08:52.391,0:08:54.230
As you see in this slide, for example,

0:08:54.231,0:08:58.019
we can see how closely related English is[br]to fellow other Germanic languages

0:08:58.020,0:09:01.749
and even to languages that are,[br]in this case, Romance languages,

0:09:01.750,0:09:05.379
despite the fact that English is[br]a Germanic language essentially.

0:09:05.380,0:09:08.372
Shortcut number two: keep it simple.

0:09:08.373,0:09:11.112
At first sight, you might think[br]you're learning a language

0:09:11.113,0:09:13.584
that doesn't have that much[br]in common with our own,

0:09:13.585,0:09:17.739
but by focusing on easy elements,[br]we will be able to learn it much quickly

0:09:17.740,0:09:21.649
because every language[br]has easy elements to it.

0:09:21.650,0:09:23.833
Some languages only have[br]two or three tenses.

0:09:23.834,0:09:27.962
For example, you end up saying[br]'I had,' in this one form,

0:09:27.963,0:09:30.469
for 'I had,'I have had,'[br]and 'I had had,'

0:09:30.470,0:09:35.116
and 'I am' also can be[br]'I will be' and 'I would be.'

0:09:35.117,0:09:38.316
In other cases,[br]if we look at, for example, German,

0:09:38.317,0:09:41.153
we have a case of advanced vocabulary

0:09:41.154,0:09:45.222
that is derived from[br]a few simple words or verbs.

0:09:45.223,0:09:48.527
In this case, we have[br]the verb 'sprechen' which is 'to speak,'

0:09:48.528,0:09:50.593
which has now gone on and lent itself

0:09:50.594,0:09:55.733
to become 'besprechen' - to discuss,[br]'entsprechen' - to correspond,

0:09:55.734,0:09:59.142
'versprechen' and 'absprechen,'[br]and so on, and so on.

0:09:59.902,0:10:03.736
Shortcut number three: keep it relevant.

0:10:03.737,0:10:06.478
Especially at the beginning[br]of our process,

0:10:06.479,0:10:09.139
we need to make sure[br]that it's relevant to us.

0:10:09.502,0:10:11.347
Not everyone is learning German

0:10:11.348,0:10:14.410
in order to discuss business[br]with colleagues in Berlin.

0:10:14.920,0:10:16.340
Think about this.

0:10:16.341,0:10:17.880
As speakers of English,

0:10:17.881,0:10:22.148
we don't know every single word[br]in the Oxford English Dictionary.

0:10:22.149,0:10:23.534
So why should we fret

0:10:23.535,0:10:27.954
about remembering every single word[br]we encounter in the new language?

0:10:27.955,0:10:33.863
We simply have to make it relevant[br]to our own specific situation right now.

0:10:35.073,0:10:41.369
When it comes to learning a language,[br]perhaps the most crucial element is time.

0:10:41.370,0:10:46.272
And by time, I don't mean[br]years upon years of endless learning

0:10:46.273,0:10:48.924
as some people still like to think.

0:10:48.925,0:10:53.061
How long does it take to learn a language?

0:10:53.062,0:10:55.205
How about if I were to tell you

0:10:55.206,0:11:00.436
that 30 minutes per day[br]are a great and effective start?

0:11:01.045,0:11:04.234
Thirty minutes - these are[br]minutes we all have.

0:11:04.235,0:11:06.893
Be ten in the morning,[br]ten in the afternoon,

0:11:06.894,0:11:10.736
ten in the evening,[br]or 30 minutes in simply one go

0:11:10.737,0:11:14.225
on the way to work,[br]to university, to school,

0:11:14.226,0:11:18.000
out in the evening, meeting friends,[br]whilst we are on the train or bus.

0:11:18.001,0:11:21.925
We all have all these minutes[br]that we can commit to learn.

0:11:21.926,0:11:27.679
Furthermore, by learning for[br]smaller periods and regular intervals,

0:11:27.680,0:11:30.914
we won't feel so overwhelmed[br]by the language.

0:11:30.915,0:11:32.868
And even better,

0:11:32.869,0:11:37.967
learning for regular periods[br]means that it's more effective,

0:11:37.968,0:11:39.356
because chances are

0:11:39.357,0:11:43.060
that if you're learning for[br]once a week or once a fortnight,

0:11:43.061,0:11:45.235
by the time you next come to learn,

0:11:45.236,0:11:48.812
you'll already have forgotten[br]what you initially learned.

0:11:49.442,0:11:51.028
The goal therefore is

0:11:51.029,0:11:54.728
to fit language learning[br]into our daily routines

0:11:54.729,0:11:57.522
and not the other way around.

0:11:57.523,0:11:59.488
And by doing this,

0:11:59.489,0:12:02.478
there's no reason[br]why after simply one month,

0:12:02.479,0:12:05.814
you can't get by in your new language.

0:12:07.724,0:12:13.154
These active forms of learning,[br]we need to compliment them

0:12:13.155,0:12:17.865
with what I'd like to refer to[br]as passive forms of learning.

0:12:18.485,0:12:24.123
Having breakfast: switch the radio on[br]and listen to a station in the language,

0:12:24.124,0:12:28.303
become acquainted[br]with the music of the language.

0:12:28.304,0:12:31.025
The music will not only help you[br]get used to the sounds,

0:12:31.026,0:12:33.458
to the intonation, and to the rhythm

0:12:33.459,0:12:36.625
but the words you'll hear[br]will also help you associate them;

0:12:36.626,0:12:38.077
because you know the songs,

0:12:38.078,0:12:41.252
and you'll be able to[br]associate them with these songs,

0:12:41.253,0:12:43.872
thus expanding our vocabulary.

0:12:44.472,0:12:45.777
Had a hard day?

0:12:45.778,0:12:48.727
Treat yourself to a TV series[br]or a film in the language,

0:12:48.728,0:12:50.491
and put subtitles on, in English,

0:12:50.492,0:12:52.978
and then, others can join[br]and watch with you as well.

0:12:52.979,0:12:55.601
We all know how everyone[br]seems to be going crazy about

0:12:55.602,0:12:58.161
this Scandinavian TV crime series[br]at the moment -

0:12:58.162,0:13:02.581
some of which have been[br]dubbed into English; keep it original.

0:13:04.309,0:13:07.247
By doing this,

0:13:07.248,0:13:09.876
this will get you off to a great start

0:13:09.877,0:13:13.219
to go on and to actually[br]master your language.

0:13:13.220,0:13:15.116
There are three rules,

0:13:15.117,0:13:18.842
I like to refer to them[br]as the golden rules of language learning,

0:13:18.843,0:13:21.025
that each and everyone of us[br]should be doing

0:13:21.026,0:13:23.736
when going about learning a language.

0:13:23.737,0:13:28.340
The first rule is - wait for it -

0:13:28.990,0:13:32.761
the first rule is live the language,

0:13:32.762,0:13:37.047
speak it, read it, write it, dream in it,

0:13:37.048,0:13:40.527
sing it even; sing to yourself.

0:13:40.528,0:13:43.217
My brother and I[br]when we started learning Greek,

0:13:43.218,0:13:45.694
we decided to write songs in the language.

0:13:45.695,0:13:48.154
Don't worry, I'm not about[br]to embarrass my brother,

0:13:48.155,0:13:51.226
and I certainly won't be singing[br]for you all this morning.

0:13:51.227,0:13:55.134
That said,[br]in order to master the language,

0:13:55.135,0:13:58.066
you have to make it yours,[br]own the language.

0:13:58.067,0:14:02.106
So why not put your phone or computer[br]in the language you're learning?

0:14:02.776,0:14:06.042
Number two: make mistakes.

0:14:06.043,0:14:07.752
Yes, you heard me correctly.

0:14:07.753,0:14:09.984
Make as many as you want.

0:14:09.985,0:14:11.104
Why?

0:14:11.105,0:14:13.397
Because we learn by making mistakes.

0:14:13.398,0:14:16.961
It's actually the only way[br]we can get things right.

0:14:17.451,0:14:19.744
As children, we're even[br]expected to make them.

0:14:19.745,0:14:23.552
But as adults, we are apprehensive[br]because they make us feel vulnerable.

0:14:23.962,0:14:25.361
Admitting from the beginning

0:14:25.362,0:14:29.096
we don't know absolutely everything[br]there is to know about this new language

0:14:29.097,0:14:30.974
will not prevent us from learning it.

0:14:30.975,0:14:35.764
Furthermore, it will actually give us[br]the freedom to go on and to master it.

0:14:35.765,0:14:39.551
So go forth and make[br]as many mistakes as you like.

0:14:39.731,0:14:40.787
The last rule,

0:14:40.788,0:14:44.507
and this is the most important one,[br]and this is essential:

0:14:44.508,0:14:46.989
make it fun.

0:14:46.990,0:14:50.497
Grammar rules aren't always fun.

0:14:50.498,0:14:52.278
I mean, I love grammar,

0:14:52.279,0:14:55.246
but I understand that not everyone[br]is so enthusiastic about it;

0:14:55.247,0:14:57.256
not sure why, though.

0:14:57.257,0:15:00.156
But remember,[br]whatever you can do in English,

0:15:00.157,0:15:01.872
you can do in any other language,

0:15:01.873,0:15:03.755
so make it fun.

0:15:03.756,0:15:07.665
And actually, by making it fun,[br]by making the process entertaining,

0:15:07.666,0:15:09.951
you're helping yourself stay motivated.

0:15:09.952,0:15:14.361
And the more motivated you are,[br]the better your chances are of succeeding.

0:15:14.362,0:15:18.211
So go out and let[br]your creative juices flow.

0:15:18.212,0:15:19.509
The best thing as well

0:15:19.510,0:15:23.449
is why not try and get people,[br]other people, involved?

0:15:23.450,0:15:29.519
Say, colleagues, friends, and turn it[br]into a small, friendly competition.

0:15:29.520,0:15:34.369
Actually, studies show[br]if you get a friendly competition going,

0:15:34.370,0:15:36.952
that your chances of[br]succeeding are much better,

0:15:36.953,0:15:39.442
and they enhance your performance.

0:15:40.242,0:15:43.530
Languages are often perceived[br]to be the great unknown.

0:15:43.531,0:15:45.937
We like to think of them[br]as something unfamiliar,

0:15:45.938,0:15:47.726
and yet, we know so much about them

0:15:47.727,0:15:51.559
because all human languages have[br]their own peculiar yet beautiful ways

0:15:51.560,0:15:54.751
of expressing ideas,[br]concepts, and reality,

0:15:54.752,0:15:57.692
even if we're not aware of it at first.

0:15:58.232,0:16:02.357
By now delving into the unknown[br]and realizing the familiar,

0:16:02.358,0:16:03.871
we will be able to master

0:16:03.872,0:16:09.252
one of the most fulfilling, rewarding,[br]and efficient skills we possess as humans:

0:16:09.253,0:16:11.657
human communication.

0:16:12.487,0:16:15.174
And who could resist[br]wanting to learn a language

0:16:15.175,0:16:17.975
with these linguistic pearls?

0:16:19.025,0:16:21.517
The first one would be,[br]as you say in French,

0:16:21.518,0:16:25.089
(French) "Ayez Les dents longues,"[br](English) which is 'be ambitious.'

0:16:25.090,0:16:28.209
It literally means, however,[br]'have long teeth.'

0:16:28.210,0:16:29.489
(Laughter)

0:16:29.490,0:16:30.990
Mine aren't that long.

0:16:32.083,0:16:35.057
I'd like to wish you all in Italian

0:16:35.058,0:16:38.037
(Italian) 'In bocca al lupo'[br](English) which is 'good luck,'

0:16:38.038,0:16:41.565
but literally means[br]'into the mouth of the wolf.'

0:16:41.566,0:16:42.906
(Laughter)

0:16:43.906,0:16:46.886
And finally, as we say in Ukrainian,

0:16:46.887,0:16:51.656
(Ukrainian) 'Skilʹky mov ty znayesh -[br]stilʹky raziv ty lyudyna,'

0:16:51.657,0:16:52.817
(English) which means

0:16:52.818,0:16:55.867
'The more languages you know,[br]the more people you are.'

0:16:55.868,0:16:58.008
Enjoy learning a new language.

0:16:58.009,0:16:59.169
(Applause)