Dr. Bill VanPatten: How To Learn Languages (According To Science)

Bill's website: https://www.billvanpatten.net/

Bill Van Patten, a former professor of linguistics, discusses the misconceptions people have about language learning. He emphasizes that language is not a set of rules that can be learned from textbooks, but rather an abstract and complex system that is acquired through exposure to meaningful input. He explains that language acquisition involves the gradual construction of a language system in the brain, which is influenced by the data and patterns observed in the environment. Speaking and output, while important for communication, are not the primary drivers of language acquisition. Bill also addresses concerns about making mistakes and fossilizing incorrect patterns, noting that second language acquisition is influenced by external factors and individual differences. In this conversation, Bill VanPatten and Loïs Talagrand discuss various topics related to language learning. They touch on the importance of exposure and comprehensible input, the role of teachers in language acquisition, the power of reading in language learning, and the impact of age on language learning. Bill emphasizes the need for time on task and motivation in language learning, and dispels the misconception that age is a barrier to language acquisition. He also shares insights into his transition from academia to fiction writing.

00:00 Introduction to Bill Van Patten and his background in language learning
02:06 The divide between traditional language learning approaches and input-based approaches
04:02 The misconception that language can be learned through rules and textbooks
06:31 The gradual construction of a language system through exposure to input
10:53 The evolution of language acquisition over time
22:50 The role of textbooks as 'baby teeth' in language learning
28:30 The importance of bootstrapping into meaning through vocabulary acquisition
30:29 The role of speaking in language learning and its limitations
37:18 Leakage from the first language system in second language acquisition
38:35 Exposure and Comprehensible Input
50:58 Redefining the Role of Teachers
57:07 The Power of Reading
01:10:40 Dispelling the Myth of Age
01:14:46 From Academia to Fiction Writing