Question

Discuss how you think Kuhl's findings regarding the benefits of babies being exposed to languages in person versus over the television or audio should impact how we often rely on various forms of technology to teach children today?

Answer 1

Patricia K. Kuhl is an American Professor of Speech and Hearing Sciences, who has done many studies on the brain mechanisms of language and the neural pathways participating in the language acquisition. According to her work, by simply exposing babies to a new language, they can familiarize themselves with it. However, there is a big difference between the social exposure (when interacting with their parents or caregiver) than when exposed to it through television or radio. In order to learn a language, babies need to have face-to-face interaction with a person, since they cannot learn a language by interfacing with technology. This is because she believes that language acquisition involves the social brain. These conclusions should be used to modify the way children are taught new languages. The use of technology should be limited to the minimum and the teachers should try and socially interact with the children.