How to Learn a Language Like a Baby with Dr. Kateřina Chládková

Let's change the way we learn foreign languages! In our latest episode, Dr. Kateřina Chládková (assistant professor at Faculty of Arts, Charles University and a senior scientist at Institute of Psychology, Czech Academy of Sciences) upends conventional wisdom about language learning.

Babies don't use flashcards or grammar drills—they absorb language through immersion in their linguistic environment. Dr. Chládková's research suggests adults retain these innate mechanisms but rarely access them. Instead of focusing on isolated vocabulary lists and grammar rules, adults should aim to ‘soak up’ the language around them, much like babies do.

Dr. Chládková proposes reconnecting with our instinctive learning capabilities by focusing on rhythm and context over isolated components. This approach mirrors how infants develop fluency—through pattern recognition rather than conscious analysis.

USEFUL LINKS

More about Dr. Kateřina Chládková: https://psu.cas.cz/en/people/cv/chladkova/index.html

Article on The Conversation co-authored by Dr. Chládková: https://theconversation.com/how-to-learn-a-language-like-a-baby-250551

The Mooveez app: https://www.mooveez.com/