Is it easy to Learn a New Language?

Summary

Summary of "Who Smarted?" Podcast Episode: "Is it Easy to Learn a New Language?"

Title: Is it Easy to Learn a New Language?
Release Date: March 7, 2025
Host/Author: Atomic Entertainment / Starglow Media
Duration Covered: 00:02 – 18:53 (Excluding Advertisements)

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Introduction: Setting the Stage

The episode begins with Jerry Colbert attempting to practice Spanish at an airport, setting a relatable and humorous tone for young listeners embarking on the journey of language learning. Engaged in a playful dialogue, Jerry interacts with Chris Okawa, who personifies Jerry's passport, bringing to life the concept of multilingualism in an entertaining manner.

Notable Quote:
Jerry Colbert [00:02]: "Hi, smarty pants. As you can hear, I'm trying to learn a new language."

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Characters and Setting

• Jerry Colbert: The relatable protagonist trying to learn Spanish.
• Chris Okawa: Personified passport acting as a multilingual guide.
• Hippo: Introduced later as a representation of the hippocampus, the brain's memory center.

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Main Discussion Topics

1. Multilingualism and Language Statistics

Chris reveals impressive language capabilities, stating he can speak over a thousand languages, highlighting the vast diversity of languages worldwide.

Notable Quotes:
Chris Okawa [02:09]: "Believe it or not, there are over 7100 languages spoken in the world today."
Jerry Colbert [10:07]: "Any guess what's the second most used language? Is it Spanish, Italian, or Mandarin? If you said Mandarin, you're right."

2. Brain Areas Involved in Language Learning

The conversation delves into neuroscience, explaining how different areas of the brain facilitate language acquisition.

• Broca's Area: Located in the frontal lobe (left side), responsible for speech production.
• Wernicke's Area: Situated near the sylvian fissure (left side), crucial for language comprehension.
• Hippocampus (Hippo): Central to memory formation, aiding in associating new words with existing knowledge.

Notable Quotes:
Chris Okawa [05:15]: "Broca's area and Wernicke's area are located on the same side of the brain."
Hippo [15:58]: "I'll remember everything about this meeting. And I mean everything."

3. Language Learning Goals and Timeframes

The hosts discuss realistic milestones in language learning, emphasizing that acquiring proficiency varies individually but provides general targets.

• 800-1000 Words: Basic conversational ability.
• 2000 Words: Understanding approximately 80% of written and spoken material.

Notable Quote:
Chris Okawa [07:47]: "Research shows that if you learn 800 to 1000 words of a new language, then you can carry on a basic conversation."

4. Techniques for Memorizing Words

Effective strategies are highlighted, such as associating new vocabulary with images and existing knowledge to enhance memory retention.

Notable Quotes:
Jerry Colbert [08:15]: "Why can't I just hear a word or sentence and figure out what it means?"
Chris Okawa [08:37]: "When you say the word shoe in a new language, Zapato neurons fire and new wrinkles are formed in your brain."

5. The Role of the Hippocampus in Learning

Introduction of "Hippo" elucidates how the hippocampus integrates new language information with prior memories, facilitating long-term retention and understanding.

Notable Quotes:
Hippo [15:58]: "I'm located in the center of your brain and I connect related memories together."
Jerry Colbert [17:15]: "When you learn a new language, the hippocampus part of your brain takes the information and associates it with what you already know and builds on it, making your brain bigger."

6. Historical Perspective on Languages

A brief overview of language history is provided, identifying the earliest documented languages and the evolution influenced by historical events.

• Sumerian: The first official language documented around 3500 BCE.
• Akkadian: Replaced Sumerian after the invasion of the Akkadian Empire around 100 CE.
• Mandarin: Currently the most spoken language with over a billion speakers.

Notable Quotes:
Chris Okawa [09:54]: "The first official language documented in 3500 BCE is called Sumerian."
Jerry Colbert [10:31]: "English might not have been the first language, but it is the most used language in the world."

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Interactive Elements and Humor

Throughout the episode, humor is interwoven to maintain engagement. For instance, Jerry's attempt to speak Mandarin humorously results in an unintended translation, adding a light-hearted touch to the educational content.

Notable Quotes:
Jerry Colbert [11:07]: "Right? Except I don't know what I just said."
Chris Okawa [11:14]: "You just said you like to eat hot dogs with your toes."

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Conclusion: Encouraging Lifelong Learning

As the episode wraps up, Jerry and Chris reinforce the importance of continuous learning and the benefits it brings to cognitive development. The playful banter underscores the message that learning new languages is both achievable and enjoyable.

Notable Quotes:
Hippo [16:20]: "When you're learning a new language, I get bigger. But never too big for your skull."
Jerry Colbert [17:53]: "Studies show immersing yourself in a foreign language helps you learn faster."

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Production Credits

• Written By: Darshal Sandifer
• Voiced By: Chris Okawa, Justin Du, Kim Davis, Jerry Colbert
• Technical Direction and Sound Design: Josh Hahn
• Associate Producer: Max Kamasky
• Theme Song: Brian Suarez (lyrics by Adam Tex Davis)
• Produced By: Adam Tex Davis and Jerry Colbert
• Recorded and Mixed At: Relic Room Studios
• Produced By: Atomic Entertainment

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Final Thoughts: This episode of "Who Smarted?" seamlessly blends humor with educational content, making complex topics like linguistics and neuroscience accessible to young audiences. By personifying elements such as the passport and hippocampus, the show effectively demystifies the language learning process, encouraging listeners to embrace new languages with curiosity and enthusiasm.

Transcript

[Jerry Colbert]

Hola, pantalones intelligentes. Como estas? Oy. Um. Como. Seyama. Hi, smarty pants. As you can hear, I'm trying to learn a new language. Keyword? Trying. Any guesses what language? I was just practicing. If you said Spanish, you're right. I'm actually in the airport. My way to Mexico.

[Chris Okawa]

Flight 55 to Mexico will begin boarding at gate 8:43 in 20 minutes.

[Jerry Colbert]

Anyway, I was hoping to impress my friends by speaking some Spanish once I arrive. Como estas?

[Chris Okawa]

I'm good, thanks. Also, nice job.

[Jerry Colbert]

Excuse me?

[Chris Okawa]

Your Spanish. It's getting better. I can tell you've been practicing.

[Jerry Colbert]

I have. And thanks. Also, I don't see anyone who's talking to me. Psst.

[Chris Okawa]

Look down.

[Jerry Colbert]

Okay. All I see is my luggage, my boarding pass, and my passport.

[Chris Okawa]

Yep, that's me. I'm your passport.

[Jerry Colbert]

Um, okay. Passports don't usually talk, but that's cool. I take it you speak English and Spanish?

[Chris Okawa]

Yep.

[Jerry Colbert]

Wow. Two languages. That means you're bilingual. That's impressive.

[Chris Okawa]

If you think that's impressive, wait until you find out. I can speak more than two languages.

[Jerry Colbert]

More than two? So you're trilingual?

[Chris Okawa]

Nope. I can speak more than three languages.

[Jerry Colbert]

Wow. Hey, smarty pants, do you know what it's called when someone can speak four or more languages? Is it universal, superlingual, or multilingual? If you said multilingual, nice job. So how many languages can you speak? Passport.

[Chris Okawa]

Well, as a passport, I've traveled all around the world.

[Jerry Colbert]

You're not saying you can speak every language in the world, are you?

[Chris Okawa]

No. That would be ridiculously impressive. Do you know how many languages there are?

[Jerry Colbert]

What do you think, smartypants? How many languages are there? Is it 500? 1000? 5000? More?

[Chris Okawa]

Believe it or not, there are over 7100 languages spoken in the world today.

[Jerry Colbert]

Whoa.

[Chris Okawa]

I can only speak about a thousand of them.

[Jerry Colbert]

A thousand languages? Passport. That's amazing. I'm still learning to speak one other language. What about you, smarty pants? How many languages can you speak? You know, Passport. Since you're such an expert on languages, maybe you can help answer some questions I have. Like, how do you learn a new language? How long does it take? Are some languages harder to learn than others? And why are there so many different languages in the first place?

[Chris Okawa]

Great questions. I've got answers.

[Jerry Colbert]

Good. Then it's time for another whiff of science and history on who smarted. Who's smarted?

[Chris Okawa]

Who's smart? Is it you?

[Jerry Colbert]

Is it me? Is it science or history? Listen up, everyone.

[Chris Okawa]

We make Smarting.

[Jerry Colbert]

Lots of fun on WhoSmarted. Hey there Smartypants. Parents, you love WhoSmarted because it makes learning fun for your kids. But what about your brain? I'm Jerry Colber, the co creator of Whosmarted and yes, your very own trusty narrator. And I've got something just for you. It's called the Daily brain, a quick 10 minute podcast designed to help you think, sharper, stress less and boost your brain power. With simple, simple science backed exercises. From problem solving hacks to memory tricks and focus boosters, the Daily Brain is like a mini workout for your mind. No heavy lifting required. So after WhoSmarted, treat yourself to some brain boosting fun. Listen to the Daily Brain wherever you get your podcasts.

[Abby]

Parents, if you've ever experienced bedtime battles with the kids, I'm gonna let you into a little secret. I'm Abby, a mother of two and I had these battles myself. Endless excuses, delay tactics, and many tears and tantrums. But I've created a solution. The perfect kids podcast that makes bedtime a dream. It's called Koala Moon and it's hosted by me, Abby. With over 300 episodes packed with original stories and sleep meditations, Koala Moon makes bedtimes easy and enjoyable. Episodes start out engaging and really rather magical. But as they progress, they gently slow to a calm and relaxing pace to have your little ones out like a light. Since launching in 2022, Koala Moon has helped with over 20 million night sleep and received over 6,000 five star reviews. Win back your evenings. Listen to Koala Moon now, wherever you get your podcasts.

[Chris Okawa]

Flight 55 to Mexico will begin boarding at gate 843 in 15 minutes.

[Jerry Colbert]

Okay, passport. We've got 15 minutes before my flight. Where should we begin?

[Chris Okawa]

Well, to start, there are several levels to learning a new language. You can learn to understand a new language auditorily, like in the auditorium we.

[Jerry Colbert]

Use for assemblies at school.

[Chris Okawa]

No, auditorily means through hearing. In fact, the who Smarted Podcast teaches history and science auditorily.

[Jerry Colbert]

Ah, I see. I mean, I hear some people can.

[Chris Okawa]

Listen to a new language being spoken and kind of make out what's being said, but they don't know how to speak or write that language. At least not yet.

[Jerry Colbert]

Gotcha. So how do you learn to understand a new language? By hearing it auditorially?

[Chris Okawa]

Well, the major player in this process is your brain. In your brain, there are several areas used to process language. Scientists have identified Broca's area and Wernicke's area as the areas used to communicate or Express and understand thoughts.

[Jerry Colbert]

So the brain is split into sections or areas?

[Chris Okawa]

Yes. There's a right side and a left side of your brain. Each side has four lobes or sections. There's the frontal lobe, which is towards the front, like behind your forehead. There's the parietal lobe, which is toward the top of your head, and the side above your ear. There's the occipital lobe, which is in the back of your head, and the temporal lobe, which is behind the ear and above the neck area. Each area has a special function.

[Jerry Colbert]

And where are the language parts of the brain located?

[Chris Okawa]

Broca's area and Wernicke's area are located on the same side of the brain.

[Jerry Colbert]

Hmm. Smarty pants. Can you guess which side Broca's area and Wernicke's area are located in the brain? Are they on the left or the right side?

[Chris Okawa]

If you guess the left side, which is thought to be the more logical side, you're correct. Broca's area is in the frontal lobe, typically on the left side. And Wernicke's area is often on the sylvian fissure, which is a line that connects your parietal and temporal lobes.

[Jerry Colbert]

Very interesting. But how can I learn Spanish so I can impress my friends?

[Chris Okawa]

Well, considering you're in the airport right now and your flight leaves in 11 minutes, I'd say you'll only be able to use what you've learned so far. To completely learn a new language takes time. There's no exact time frame, but it could take as little as three months or as long as two years.

[Jerry Colbert]

Hmm. I've only been practicing Spanish for two months, so probably not this trip.

[Chris Okawa]

Well, the good news is there are some goals you can work towards. Research shows that if you learn 800 to 1000 words of a new language, then you can carry on a basic conversation. And if you know 2000 words, you can understand 80% of text or things that are written in that language.

[Jerry Colbert]

Considering how many words I know in English, that sounds doable. But how does it work? Why can't I just hear a word or sentence and figure out what it means?

[Chris Okawa]

Well, it's something that has to be taught. Your brain needs something to connect the word to in order to assign it meaning.

[Jerry Colbert]

My brain needs connections. Like Lego.

[Chris Okawa]

Sort of. Let's say you're studying another language and learning the word shoe in that language.

[Jerry Colbert]

In Spanish, that's. Wait, wait, don't tell me. It's zapato.

[Chris Okawa]

Nice. Now, when you can, say, write and read the word shoe, your Mind pictures. A shoe. And when you say the word shoe in a new language, Zapato neurons fire and new wrinkles are formed in your brain.

[Jerry Colbert]

Wrinkles? Is that good?

[Chris Okawa]

Yes. Those wrinkles in your brain will help you understand, remember, and speak the new word. The focus area is used to help facilitate speech, which means that area of your brain communicates with your lungs, lips, jaw, and tongue to help you form the new word. It may take a few tries because this may be a new combination of sounds. And Wernicke's area is responsible for comprehension of speech. Hearing the word Zapato and picturing.

[Jerry Colbert]

A shoe.

[Chris Okawa]

Exactly.

[Jerry Colbert]

Wow. Who knew wrinkles could be a good thing?

[Chris Okawa]

When it comes to your brain, the more wrinkles, the better.

[Jerry Colbert]

Okay, so it sounds like I need to create lots of wrinkles. I'm curious, smarty pants. What do you think was the first language ever created if you guessed English? Not even close.

[Chris Okawa]

The first official language documented in 3500 BCE is called Sumerian.

[Jerry Colbert]

I've heard of it, but I've never heard it. I assume it's no longer in use.

[Chris Okawa]

Nope. Sumerian was replaced by Akkadian in 100 CE.

[Jerry Colbert]

I've never heard of that one. Also, what caused the switch? Why create a new language?

[Chris Okawa]

The invasion of the Sumer country by the Akka is what caused the language to switch. Of course, some people still spoke Sumerian, but Akkadian was used too.

[Jerry Colbert]

Oh, and smarty pants, don't feel bad if you guessed English earlier. English might not have been the first language, but it is the most used language in the world. Any guess what's the second most used language? Is it Spanish, Italian, or Mandarin? If you said Mandarin, you're right. More than 1 billion people use Mandarin. And it's the name of the language used in China, not Chinese. Do you speak Mandarin? Passport.

[Chris Okawa]

Si day wo yeni.

[Jerry Colbert]

Ooh, let me try. Shi de wo yeni.

[Chris Okawa]

There you go. Learning auditorily.

[Jerry Colbert]

Right? Except I don't know what I just said.

[Chris Okawa]

You just said you like to eat hot dogs with your toes.

[Jerry Colbert]

Wait, what?

[Chris Okawa]

Just kidding. Si day wo yenni means Yes, I do in Mandarin. As in, you asked if I spoke Mandarin. Shide wo yeni.

[Jerry Colbert]

Oh, very cool. But passport. How does your brain memorize so many new words?

[Chris Okawa]

Great question.

[Jerry Colbert]

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[Chris Okawa]

Flight 55 to Mexico will begin boarding at Gate A43 in five minutes.

[Jerry Colbert]

As you can hear, I'm at the airport with my passport, who is somehow a much more worldly traveler than I am. And they were about to explain how our brains can memorize all the new words needed to speak a new language.

[Chris Okawa]

Actually, there's someone who can explain that a lot better than me. Let me introduce my friend, Hippo.

[Jerry Colbert]

A hippo in the airport. Um.

[Chris Okawa]

Trusty narrator, meet hippo.

[Jerry Colbert]

Um, Hippo. No offense, but you sure don't look like a hippopotamus.

[Hippo]

Who said anything about being a hippopotamus?

[Chris Okawa]

Sorry. Hippo isn't short for hippopotamus. It's short for hippocampus.

[Hippo]

I'm an essential part of your brain used for memory.

[Jerry Colbert]

Oh, okay. That makes so much more sense. Nice to meet you.

[Hippo]

Same. And just so you know, I'll remember everything about this meeting. And I mean everything.

[Jerry Colbert]

Right? Cause that's your thing, isn't it? Yep.

[Hippo]

The more I know, the bigger I grow.

[Jerry Colbert]

Wait, are you saying the more someone learns, the bigger their head gets?

[Hippo]

Well, not exactly. When you're learning a new language, I get bigger. But never too big for your skull.

[Jerry Colbert]

So how does that work?

[Hippo]

I'm located in the center of your brain and I connect related memories together. For example, say you learned the word orange. In Haitian Creole, that's orange. Nice passport. Obviously you know the English word orange. Not only that, but you also know what an orange looks, feels, smells and tastes like. So if someone were to show you an orange and say zorange, you have many things you can associate with that word to help you understand what zorange means. This helps you commit it to your long term memory.

[Chris Okawa]

Flight 55 to Mexico now boarding at gate A43.

[Jerry Colbert]

I better run soon. But let me get this straight. When you learn a new language, the hippocampus part of your brain takes the information and associates it with to what you already know and builds on it, making your brain bigger.

[Hippo]

Bigger and stronger.

[Chris Okawa]

Trusty narrator, I got you a book to read on your flight.

[Jerry Colbert]

Thanks. But wait. It's a children's book. And it's in Spanish. I can't read Spanish.

[Chris Okawa]

Maybe not all of it, but some of it. And since it's a children's book, there will be pictures to help you understand.

[Jerry Colbert]

Ah, I can use my hippocampus.

[Hippo]

Exactly.

[Chris Okawa]

Studies show immersing yourself in a foreign language helps you learn faster. In particular if there are pictures or images for you to see. So reading Spanish children's books or watching the news in Spanish is a great way to learn. And of course, visiting a foreign country. Flight 55 to Mexico, final boarding at Gate A43.

[Jerry Colbert]

Yikes. I better run. No, I'm not going to run. I'm going to Cora. Correr.

[Chris Okawa]

Yes, correr is run in Spanish. We better correr.

[Jerry Colbert]

Arriba. Arriba. Andalay. Andalay. A big old shout out to Britta in St. Paul, Minnesota. Who's listening to who smarted with her cat, George. Hi, George. Thanks for being our biggest fans and for listening to too two episodes every day on the way to school. This episode, learning Languages, was written by Darshal Sandifer and voiced by Chris Okawa, Justin Du, Kim Davis and Jerry Colbert. Technical direction and sound design by Josh Hahn. Who's smart? It is recorded and mixed at the Relic Room studios. Our associate producer is Max Kamasky. The theme song is by Brian Suarez with lyrics written and performed by Adam Tex Davis. Who Smarted was created and produced by Adam Tex Davis and Jerry Colbert. This has been an Atomic Entertainment production.