Have you struggled with language learning as an adult?
Or have you ever given up on something else you wanted to do because someone told you it wasn’t possible?
English Pronunciation Expert and Coach Aiko Hemingway shared in her recent TEDx Talk at Huntington Beach how she overcame her struggle to speak English and be understood after she moved from Japan to America.
At first, when she said “rice,” people thought she was saying “lice.”
And when she mentioned the name of her professor, “Doug,” they thought she was calling him “dog”!!!
Then Aiko discovered the hypothesis of linguist and neurologist Dr. Eric Lenneberg. He announced in 1967 that mastering a second language, especially pronunciation, becomes extremely difficult after the age of 12.
“That explains it!” she thought. And she gave up on improving her language skills.
But then one day, during choir practice, something changed her mind and gave her renewed hope.
Hear from Aiko herself in her TEDx Talk here (less than 8 mins).
It’s well worth listening to if you’re looking for words of encouragement.
The #LessEffortMoreImpact Movement for Women in Business is an uplifting community for growth-minded women in Japan and beyond to
- connect across industries and nationalities
- embrace selfcare as a success strategy
- encourage each other to step out of our comfort zones
so that we can do brilliant work, without sacrificing our personal lives.