Inspirational TED talks to help you learn a new language

October 15, 2023

These speeches highlighting the advantages (and joy!) of learning a new language will open up a new world of opportunities and experiences.

Topic: 4 reasons to learn a new language

Speaker: John McWhorter

Speech date: February 2016

With the advancement of instant translation technology, English is quickly becoming the global tongue. Therefore, why even try to learn a foreign language? John McWhorter, a linguistics professor at Columbia University, lists four appealing advantages of learning a foreign language.

Topic: Learn to read Chinese ... with ease!

Speaker: ShaoLan

Speech date: February 2013

Learning Chinese is challenging for non-Chinese speakers. But it could be easier to learn to read the stunning, frequently intricate characters used in Chinese writing. ShaoLan takes the audience through an easy tutorial in understanding the principles and meaning behind the symbols, progressing from a few primary forms to more intricate notions. Call it simplistic.

Topic: The enchanting music of sign language

Speaker: Christine Sun Kim

Speech date: August 2015

Christine Sun Kim is a deaf artist and TED Fellow. She was born deaf and raised to think that sound was something only hearing people experienced. She recognized that American Sign Language and music have commonalities via her art and that sound must be perceived by the ears and can be felt, seen, and experienced as a concept. She cordially encourages us to engage in the decadent richness of visual language in this charming discourse by opening our eyes and ears.

Topic: Don't insist on English!

Speaker: Patricia Ryan

Speech date: December 2010

A veteran English instructor, Patricia Ryan, poses the following intriguing query: Are unique ideas in other languages being stifled by the world's concentration on English? What if Einstein had to take the TOEFL, in other words? It is a genuine support of idea exchange and translation.

Topic: Could your language affect your ability to save money?

Speaker: Keith Chen

Speech date: June 2012

What can linguistics teach economists? According to behavioral economist Keith Chen's research, languages lacking a notion for the future—for example, "It rains tomorrow" rather than "It will rain tomorrow"—strongly correspond with high savings rates.