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Words can change the world: how language learning deepens connection | Louka Parry | TEDxAdelaide


[Music]

[Music] wait chorong Nile opt-ins are one can

wait chorong Nile opt-ins are one can

wait chorong Nile opt-ins are one can one can Jana judging our new report

one can Jana judging our new report

one can Jana judging our new report economy

economy

economy puto Kali rambha Mehra

puto Kali rambha Mehra

puto Kali rambha Mehra Kotori WA Nicolini puto

Kotori WA Nicolini puto

Kotori WA Nicolini puto Cory rampa Mara cat who you are we’re if

Cory rampa Mara cat who you are we’re if

Cory rampa Mara cat who you are we’re if you don’t understand what I’m saying

you don’t understand what I’m saying

you don’t understand what I’m saying put up your hand okay so chances are for

put up your hand okay so chances are for

put up your hand okay so chances are for most of us in this room you felt some

most of us in this room you felt some

most of us in this room you felt some discomfort some confusion at least and

discomfort some confusion at least and

discomfort some confusion at least and perhaps even some annoyance that was the

perhaps even some annoyance that was the

perhaps even some annoyance that was the beautiful pigeon della language from the

beautiful pigeon della language from the

beautiful pigeon della language from the central desert of Australia and what you

central desert of Australia and what you

central desert of Australia and what you just experienced that discomfort that

just experienced that discomfort that

just experienced that discomfort that confusion is what I first experienced

confusion is what I first experienced

confusion is what I first experienced when I moved to that part of this

when I moved to that part of this

when I moved to that part of this country I moved there as a new teacher

country I moved there as a new teacher

country I moved there as a new teacher to learn how to be a teacher to make a

to learn how to be a teacher to make a

to learn how to be a teacher to make a difference

difference

difference and a young girl actually came up to me

and a young girl actually came up to me

and a young girl actually came up to me and said yellow Geelong arundo Yeller I

and said yellow Geelong arundo Yeller I

and said yellow Geelong arundo Yeller I don’t wanna knee because I didn’t have

don’t wanna knee because I didn’t have

don’t wanna knee because I didn’t have the faintest idea what she was saying

the faintest idea what she was saying

the faintest idea what she was saying but what she said is where are you from

but what she said is where are you from

but what she said is where are you from and when are you leaving

but I think what she meant to say

but I think what she meant to say actually is how long you stay are you

actually is how long you stay are you

actually is how long you stay are you staying long enough to connect with me

staying long enough to connect with me

staying long enough to connect with me my language my culture you see languages

my language my culture you see languages

my language my culture you see languages our superpower

our superpower

our superpower it is the key engine behind the success

it is the key engine behind the success

it is the key engine behind the success of our entire species it enables us to

of our entire species it enables us to

of our entire species it enables us to communicate to connect to compel as

communicate to connect to compel as

communicate to connect to compel as young children we have an instinct for

young children we have an instinct for

young children we have an instinct for languished absorbing the words around us

languished absorbing the words around us

languished absorbing the words around us soaking them up until they become us its

soaking them up until they become us its

soaking them up until they become us its language that formulates who we are and

language that formulates who we are and

language that formulates who we are and how we are so what happens how do we

how we are so what happens how do we

how we are so what happens how do we lose that wonder the playful wonder of

lose that wonder the playful wonder of

lose that wonder the playful wonder of language we have as children when we

language we have as children when we

language we have as children when we become adults I think it comes down to

become adults I think it comes down to

become adults I think it comes down to fear of failure of discomfort I’m going

fear of failure of discomfort I’m going

fear of failure of discomfort I’m going to take you from Central Australia now

to take you from Central Australia now

to take you from Central Australia now to hear Adelaide in the 80s great decade

to hear Adelaide in the 80s great decade

to hear Adelaide in the 80s great decade and I was a young boy growing up here

and I was a young boy growing up here

and I was a young boy growing up here the first in my family to be born in

the first in my family to be born in

the first in my family to be born in this country my mum my beautiful mother

this country my mum my beautiful mother

this country my mum my beautiful mother came from a remote village in northern

came from a remote village in northern

came from a remote village in northern Greece and my father from the United

Greece and my father from the United

Greece and my father from the United Kingdom with Welsh and Irish heritage so

Kingdom with Welsh and Irish heritage so

Kingdom with Welsh and Irish heritage so I was growing up here in the suburbs and

I was growing up here in the suburbs and

I was growing up here in the suburbs and normal Adelaide Ian boy but when I was

normal Adelaide Ian boy but when I was

normal Adelaide Ian boy but when I was 16 years old my poeple in this photo my

16 years old my poeple in this photo my

16 years old my poeple in this photo my great-grandfather died suddenly and

great-grandfather died suddenly and

great-grandfather died suddenly and tragically and at that point in my life

tragically and at that point in my life

tragically and at that point in my life as a young boy as a young man I

as a young boy as a young man I

as a young boy as a young man I reflected and thought have I ever

reflected and thought have I ever

reflected and thought have I ever connected deeply with the man that he

connected deeply with the man that he

connected deeply with the man that he was we used to play a game he used to

was we used to play a game he used to

was we used to play a game he used to say look at La though tini met to honor

say look at La though tini met to honor

say look at La though tini met to honor muscle

muscle

muscle come here Luca what’s your name

come here Luca what’s your name

come here Luca what’s your name and I would say Luca Kozma has shot this

and I would say Luca Kozma has shot this

and I would say Luca Kozma has shot this Perry

Perry

Perry my fournette and he would be delighted

my fournette and he would be delighted

my fournette and he would be delighted because my two middle names are his own

because my two middle names are his own

because my two middle names are his own and so now that he was gone I realized

and so now that he was gone I realized

and so now that he was gone I realized that we had interacted but I had no

that we had interacted but I had no

that we had interacted but I had no memory of speaking with him in English

memory of speaking with him in English

memory of speaking with him in English having a conversation of asking him

having a conversation of asking him

having a conversation of asking him about the sacrifices that he made to

about the sacrifices that he made to

about the sacrifices that he made to travel to this country and set up a life

travel to this country and set up a life

travel to this country and set up a life here so that moment changed my life I

here so that moment changed my life I

here so that moment changed my life I threw myself into learning languages

threw myself into learning languages

threw myself into learning languages passionately pursuing modern Greek for

passionately pursuing modern Greek for

passionately pursuing modern Greek for my ancestry and Spanish not least of all

my ancestry and Spanish not least of all

my ancestry and Spanish not least of all to connect with my area I wasn’t going

to connect with my area I wasn’t going

to connect with my area I wasn’t going to make the same mistake again and over

to make the same mistake again and over

to make the same mistake again and over the next 10 years I learned one in Greek

the next 10 years I learned one in Greek

the next 10 years I learned one in Greek because her English just like my purpose

because her English just like my purpose

because her English just like my purpose was so broken that it was always

was so broken that it was always

was so broken that it was always hilarious to hear them speak it but he

hilarious to hear them speak it but he

hilarious to hear them speak it but he was also hard to connect at a deep level

was also hard to connect at a deep level

was also hard to connect at a deep level and I learned an incredible amount from

and I learned an incredible amount from

and I learned an incredible amount from her her persistence her insights her

her her persistence her insights her

her her persistence her insights her perspective but certainly her love so I

perspective but certainly her love so I

perspective but certainly her love so I traveled around the world from countries

traveled around the world from countries

traveled around the world from countries to cities cultures and different

to cities cultures and different

to cities cultures and different communities until I found myself in

communities until I found myself in

communities until I found myself in Chile introducing myself as own

Chile introducing myself as own

Chile introducing myself as own Australian or an Australian and what I

Australian or an Australian and what I

Australian or an Australian and what I didn’t know then is there’s a joke in

didn’t know then is there’s a joke in

didn’t know then is there’s a joke in the spanish-speaking world that says

the spanish-speaking world that says

the spanish-speaking world that says Celia nobody knows what the Chileans are

Celia nobody knows what the Chileans are

Celia nobody knows what the Chileans are saying why would you go there to learn

saying why would you go there to learn

saying why would you go there to learn Spanish and I failed every single day

Spanish and I failed every single day

Spanish and I failed every single day publicly humiliating ly by tripping over

publicly humiliating ly by tripping over

publicly humiliating ly by tripping over words or saying the wrong thing in fact

words or saying the wrong thing in fact

words or saying the wrong thing in fact one of my favorite memories is from a

one of my favorite memories is from a

one of my favorite memories is from a good friend of mine who was studying

good friend of mine who was studying

good friend of mine who was studying with me a guy called James and we went

with me a guy called James and we went

with me a guy called James and we went to this party we hadn’t been in Chile

to this party we hadn’t been in Chile

to this party we hadn’t been in Chile very long and he fell over we had been

very long and he fell over we had been

very long and he fell over we had been drinking a lot of pisco which is a type

drinking a lot of pisco which is a type

drinking a lot of pisco which is a type of brandy in Chile so that might explain

of brandy in Chile so that might explain

of brandy in Chile so that might explain it but everyone laughed and

it but everyone laughed and

it but everyone laughed and he stood up and kind of brushed himself

he stood up and kind of brushed himself

he stood up and kind of brushed himself off and said / done a story on Popo

off and said / done a story on Popo

off and said / done a story on Popo embarazada which we thought meant excuse

embarazada which we thought meant excuse

embarazada which we thought meant excuse me I’m a little bit embarrassed right

me I’m a little bit embarrassed right

me I’m a little bit embarrassed right but everyone laughed even harder than

but everyone laughed even harder than

but everyone laughed even harder than they laughed the first time and we kind

they laughed the first time and we kind

they laughed the first time and we kind of looked at each other and confusion

of looked at each other and confusion

of looked at each other and confusion what he had just said is excuse me

what he had just said is excuse me

what he had just said is excuse me proclaiming it to the room but I’m a

proclaiming it to the room but I’m a

proclaiming it to the room but I’m a little bit pregnant and so once we

little bit pregnant and so once we

little bit pregnant and so once we worked that out we also discovered I

worked that out we also discovered I

worked that out we also discovered I think the power of those language

think the power of those language

think the power of those language learning moments the power of words

learning moments the power of words

learning moments the power of words certainly I never made that same mistake

certainly I never made that same mistake

certainly I never made that same mistake and that’s really the game here but as I

and that’s really the game here but as I

and that’s really the game here but as I was traveling around the world I was

was traveling around the world I was

was traveling around the world I was saying I’m an Australian I’m an Aussie I

saying I’m an Australian I’m an Aussie I

saying I’m an Australian I’m an Aussie I also became really conscious that I knew

also became really conscious that I knew

also became really conscious that I knew very little about this amazing city of

very little about this amazing city of

very little about this amazing city of Adelaide outside of my suburb and

Adelaide outside of my suburb and

Adelaide outside of my suburb and certainly I didn’t know much about

certainly I didn’t know much about

certainly I didn’t know much about Australia this was the map I was used to

Australia this was the map I was used to

Australia this was the map I was used to seeing the quintessential map of

seeing the quintessential map of

seeing the quintessential map of Australia with the different states and

Australia with the different states and

Australia with the different states and territories

territories

territories I also discovered that in my travels

I also discovered that in my travels

I also discovered that in my travels education was the key social lever for

education was the key social lever for

education was the key social lever for change so I came back and studied to be

change so I came back and studied to be

change so I came back and studied to be a teacher and I found myself travelling

a teacher and I found myself travelling

a teacher and I found myself travelling 15 hours by car away from here in

15 hours by car away from here in

15 hours by car away from here in Adelaide to the central desert in the

Adelaide to the central desert in the

Adelaide to the central desert in the far northwest of South Australia to

far northwest of South Australia to

far northwest of South Australia to begin my teaching career on the animal

begin my teaching career on the animal

begin my teaching career on the animal beach in Jeddah young Queen Tara Lance

beach in Jeddah young Queen Tara Lance

beach in Jeddah young Queen Tara Lance I’d also come across this map by that

I’d also come across this map by that

I’d also come across this map by that stage and I started to realize the

stage and I started to realize the

stage and I started to realize the incredible diversity that doesn’t just

incredible diversity that doesn’t just

incredible diversity that doesn’t just exist in our communities but exists

exist in our communities but exists

exist in our communities but exists amongst first Australian communities so

amongst first Australian communities so

amongst first Australian communities so there I was learning my craft as a

there I was learning my craft as a

there I was learning my craft as a teacher the art and the science of

teacher the art and the science of

teacher the art and the science of teaching I was trying to connect with

teaching I was trying to connect with

teaching I was trying to connect with the community I engaged with every

the community I engaged with every

the community I engaged with every community activity that was going on

community activity that was going on

community activity that was going on playing football and if you look very

playing football and if you look very

playing football and if you look very carefully you can probably see where I

carefully you can probably see where I

carefully you can probably see where I fit in the team line

I’m incredibly humbled to speak pidgin

I’m incredibly humbled to speak pidgin Jetta and young man jela and I was

Jetta and young man jela and I was

Jetta and young man jela and I was taught that by sitting down connecting

taught that by sitting down connecting

taught that by sitting down connecting and having conversations with elders

and having conversations with elders

and having conversations with elders with the old people in this place an

with the old people in this place an

with the old people in this place an incredible knowledge that they have I

incredible knowledge that they have I

incredible knowledge that they have I also realized really for the first time

also realized really for the first time

also realized really for the first time in my life that I’m an educated white

in my life that I’m an educated white

in my life that I’m an educated white man living in a society that privileges

man living in a society that privileges

man living in a society that privileges those types of people so by learning the

those types of people so by learning the

those types of people so by learning the culture and language in that place I

culture and language in that place I

culture and language in that place I felt I could get as close as I could to

felt I could get as close as I could to

felt I could get as close as I could to understanding what it means to be a

understanding what it means to be a

understanding what it means to be a minority and to understand the

minority and to understand the

minority and to understand the privileged position that I have in a

privileged position that I have in a

privileged position that I have in a society like this so why learn a

society like this so why learn a

society like this so why learn a language one thing I discovered by

language one thing I discovered by

language one thing I discovered by living in the middle of Australia is

living in the middle of Australia is

living in the middle of Australia is that all of us at some point might have

that all of us at some point might have

that all of us at some point might have said where are we this is the middle of

said where are we this is the middle of

said where are we this is the middle of nowhere put your hands up if you’ve ever

nowhere put your hands up if you’ve ever

nowhere put your hands up if you’ve ever said where am i right now where are we

said where am i right now where are we

said where am i right now where are we this is the middle of nowhere I used to

this is the middle of nowhere I used to

this is the middle of nowhere I used to say that all the time but what I’ve

say that all the time but what I’ve

say that all the time but what I’ve realized through working across cultures

realized through working across cultures

realized through working across cultures across languages is that the middle of

across languages is that the middle of

across languages is that the middle of nowhere for one person might just be the

nowhere for one person might just be the

nowhere for one person might just be the middle of everything for another so why

middle of everything for another so why

middle of everything for another so why learn a language this is my beautiful

learn a language this is my beautiful

learn a language this is my beautiful paternal grandmother Mary Hilton Perry

paternal grandmother Mary Hilton Perry

paternal grandmother Mary Hilton Perry she’s a wonderful matriarch of our

she’s a wonderful matriarch of our

she’s a wonderful matriarch of our family she’s also one of the fifty

family she’s also one of the fifty

family she’s also one of the fifty million people worldwide that has

million people worldwide that has

million people worldwide that has dementia and it’s a terrible disease in

dementia and it’s a terrible disease in

dementia and it’s a terrible disease in fact one in three of us in our 80s

fact one in three of us in our 80s

fact one in three of us in our 80s developed this disease the first reason

developed this disease the first reason

developed this disease the first reason you should learn another language is

you should learn another language is

you should learn another language is because it makes your brain healthier we

because it makes your brain healthier we

because it makes your brain healthier we now know that by speaking multiple

now know that by speaking multiple

now know that by speaking multiple languages you can delay the onset of

languages you can delay the onset of

languages you can delay the onset of dementia by five years at least we also

dementia by five years at least we also

dementia by five years at least we also know that multilingual speakers they can

know that multilingual speakers they can

know that multilingual speakers they can increase the density

increase the density

increase the density of the prefrontal cortex of the brain

of the prefrontal cortex of the brain

of the prefrontal cortex of the brain the executive function region this is

the executive function region this is

the executive function region this is how we solve problems how we focus how

how we solve problems how we focus how

how we solve problems how we focus how we distinguish between tasks second

we distinguish between tasks second

we distinguish between tasks second learning another language makes you a

learning another language makes you a

learning another language makes you a better learner and communicator not

better learner and communicator not

better learner and communicator not least of all because you have to fail

least of all because you have to fail

least of all because you have to fail consistently publicly just like my

consistently publicly just like my

consistently publicly just like my pregnant friend and that failure getting

pregnant friend and that failure getting

pregnant friend and that failure getting comfortable with that discomfort really

comfortable with that discomfort really

comfortable with that discomfort really is the key to all learning and in a

is the key to all learning and in a

is the key to all learning and in a world a modern age where we have

world a modern age where we have

world a modern age where we have artificial intelligence and exponential

artificial intelligence and exponential

artificial intelligence and exponential technology is disrupting our society

technology is disrupting our society

technology is disrupting our society it’s critical to be life wired and

it’s critical to be life wired and

it’s critical to be life wired and lifelong learners and a better

lifelong learners and a better

lifelong learners and a better communicator because by stepping into

communicator because by stepping into

communicator because by stepping into another language you can look back at

another language you can look back at

another language you can look back at your own and understand the power of the

your own and understand the power of the

your own and understand the power of the words that we use that is a critical

words that we use that is a critical

words that we use that is a critical insight for connection and finally

insight for connection and finally

insight for connection and finally thirdly it also enables us to understand

thirdly it also enables us to understand

thirdly it also enables us to understand each other

each other

each other Nelson Mandela once said if you speak to

Nelson Mandela once said if you speak to

Nelson Mandela once said if you speak to a man in a language he understands it

a man in a language he understands it

a man in a language he understands it goes to his head but if you speak to him

goes to his head but if you speak to him

goes to his head but if you speak to him in his language it goes to his heart

in his language it goes to his heart

in his language it goes to his heart what I’ve realized by learning languages

what I’ve realized by learning languages

what I’ve realized by learning languages as an adult is that I can connect it is

as an adult is that I can connect it is

as an adult is that I can connect it is the way that we can empathize and take

the way that we can empathize and take

the way that we can empathize and take perspective we’ve become more passionate

perspective we’ve become more passionate

perspective we’ve become more passionate and compassionate we can step into the

and compassionate we can step into the

and compassionate we can step into the shoes of another human being a fellow

shoes of another human being a fellow

shoes of another human being a fellow global citizen if there’s anything our

global citizen if there’s anything our

global citizen if there’s anything our world needs today it’s deeper richer

world needs today it’s deeper richer

world needs today it’s deeper richer connection so by learning another

connection so by learning another

connection so by learning another language you will have a healthier brain

language you will have a healthier brain

language you will have a healthier brain you will be a better learner and

you will be a better learner and

you will be a better learner and communicator and you’ll also be able to

communicator and you’ll also be able to

communicator and you’ll also be able to connect to take perspective to

connect to take perspective to

connect to take perspective to understand what it means to be somebody

understand what it means to be somebody

understand what it means to be somebody else

else

else and that level of connection is exactly

and that level of connection is exactly

and that level of connection is exactly what we need in the world today so as a

what we need in the world today so as a

what we need in the world today so as a 20 year old as an adult I spoke one

20 year old as an adult I spoke one

20 year old as an adult I spoke one language English now I’m incredibly

language English now I’m incredibly

language English now I’m incredibly lucky to speak five so my question my

lucky to speak five so my question my

lucky to speak five so my question my question is not why I learn a language

question is not why I learn a language

question is not why I learn a language it’s why haven’t you thank you

it’s why haven’t you thank you

it’s why haven’t you thank you [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

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