This morning I sat the German written exam, I had to translate a text that my teacher took from La Repubblica, an Italian newspaper.
So far nothing strange, but the article dealt with the biological problem in language learning! Researchers from the University of Chicago have found out that there is an area in our brain that help us (or doesn't) to learn a foreign language. If this area is well developed you'll make no particular effort to learn the language, instead...
Was she trying to tell us something?!?!
P.S.
For those lucky of you, who know this marvellous language that is Italian the article is here!
Friday, 5 September 2008
Things you learn going to University...
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
thanks for the link...i've printed it & now will tax that area of my brain a bit!! how was your exam?
I've seen the result this morning.... for the secon time I have failed it... I'm a bit depressed about it, even though I know that it is normal to try it at least three times ...
all the best for the third trial then!
P.S. don't take brain areas as the explain-it-all solution. We have a lot to discover on our brain yet, and this new frenology is only due to fMRI data perusal, and in some cases even without too much insight.
A.
Thanks, Andrea!
That of the brain was just a joke , of course! Having it to translate during a language exam...
P.S. I didn't understand those things about fMRI data...
fMRI = functional magnetic resonance image.
It's the kind of analysis that can map those brain areas that receive more oxygen ( = generally it means they are more active). It is mostly used to target brain sub-volumes responsible for specific tasks. generally it's a very good technique, but it has its tricks.
Thank you!
Post a Comment