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Murtaza Hussain
@mazmhussain
I have heard some people say they will stop teaching their kids languages in the future due to advancements in translation technology. While I welcome this technology as an aid I think ending language learning is a mistake. I can speak four languages proficiently: English, Urdu, Persian and Turkish. I can also dust off my French and Arabic when need be. I cannot express how much this knowledge has enriched my life. Language is deeply wedded in culture in an intimate way beyond getting information across. Talking to your mother-in-law through an app just doesn’t establish the same human connection. Language learning has neurological benefits that studies suggest can slow brain aging and stave off degenerative disease. Where I see apps fitting in is as an augmentative tool for learning that makes training your brain easier than ever. But we should keep training our brains. I wrote an article on my method to help all language learners: https://mazmhussain.substack.com/p/how-to-teach-yourself-a-new-language
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Derek
@badadvicehq
I agree with you Murtaza. My thinking is technology that is supposed to be an assisting tool is being used as a replacing tool instead. Ending language is going to certainly be a mistake, because amongst other things that we'd lose, we'd lose that sense of kinship. I don't know if you've noticed, but anytime you speak a native language, the locals warms up to you instantly and will assist you anyway they can. Then there's the link to aiding brain function.
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Murtaza Hussain
@mazmhussain
Completely agree on all counts. Technology is to make life better not to replace life! And language and culture is an intimate and almost indescribable facet of what it means to be human.
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