This conversation with Lia was a pleasure to have. There were several “OH-YES-moments” and a general sense of depth and understanding. This is what an interculturalist brings to the equation. Unfortunately, the video was not recorded and we have only audio. So I am adding the link to the podcast version, so you prefer to listen through that medium.
Notes from ep. 4 of Words Off Limits with Lia Skårnes
- Globalbonez, interculturalism and communication.
- Mother tongue and code-switching.
- The untranslatable aspects of emotions and development.
- Measuring language fluency through relationships.
- Languages are about personal relationships
- The myth of when you belong to a culture you know how to teach it.
- Being bilingual is different from being bicultural
- Expat failure rate
- Dialectical thinking/emotion is intertwined with culture and philosophy.
In episode 4 we discuss
[8:03] Linguistic code-switching for bilinguals or multilingual.
[12:33] How emotions are cultural.
[14:00] The negative impact of trying to translate “ourselves” in different languages.
[15:43] Vulnerability in language
[18:32] What language teachers need to do to accompany the student on the language journey
[27:50] Whether or not it is possible to learn a language without understanding the culture
[30:20] What it means speaking in a non-native language from a native frame of mind and the surprising answer to what countries have the higher “expat failure” rate.
[37:02] Dialectical thinking, or the ability to view issues from multiple perspectives.
[40:47] How positive could be for Westerners to embrace Eastern thinking and holding paradox.
quote
“Translation doesn’t help you become the person you need to become in that language”.
“Do we need to hold back to be able to hold two perspectives?”
You can find and connect with Lia on her Instagram account:
