Brief Summary
This video features a natural conversation between the host and her three-year-old son, Dory, highlighting the typical language errors children make while learning to speak. The host emphasizes that these mistakes are a normal and necessary part of language acquisition. She then reviews specific errors Dory made in their conversation, explaining the correct forms and providing insights into why these errors occur.
- Children's language errors are a normal part of language acquisition.
- Correcting children's mistakes should be approached gently, often through rephrasing rather than direct correction.
- Children can teach adults valuable lessons about language learning, such as the importance of trying and not being afraid to make mistakes.
Welcome!
The host introduces a conversation with her three-year-old son, Dory, noting that it's normal for adults to have difficulty understanding young children. Subtitles are provided to aid comprehension. The host encourages viewers to take notes on the grammar and vocabulary mistakes Dory makes, emphasizing that these errors are a natural part of language learning. She mentions that she will discuss these mistakes and corrections later in the video and offers a downloadable transcript and correction guide.
Watch the conversation and take notes
Dory and his mom are playing with Play-Doh. Dory talks about mixing different colors of Play-Doh and identifies the colors in various containers. He mentions making a planet with a ring like Saturn. Dory states he is two years old, but his mom corrects him that he is three. Dory talks about germs living in Play-Doh and expresses excitement about starting daycare, where he will make new friends. He also discusses a boo-boo he got from falling and tripping while running.
"Mistakes"
The host transitions to discussing the mistakes Dory made during their conversation, clarifying that these errors are a normal and necessary part of the learning process. She explains that she typically doesn't correct Dory explicitly but sometimes rephrases his sentences correctly as a soft correction. She reiterates that she is not overly concerned with his mistakes, as he will learn eventually.
Bubble water vs sparkling water
Dory refers to sparkling water as "bubble water," which the host explains is a family-specific term rather than the correct vocabulary. The proper terms are seltzer water, sparkling water, or carbonated water. She shares a live update from her family, with her brother in Massachusetts saying "bubbly water" is unacceptable and her sister in California saying it is perfectly acceptable.
Pronunciation of "ed" endings
Dory makes a pronunciation error with the word "mixed," pronouncing it as "mix-ed." The host explains that there are three different pronunciations for past simple verbs and that children learn these naturally through listening. She suggests that adults can use a hybrid approach of listening and studying charts to learn these pronunciations more quickly. She mentions including a chart and explanation in the video's guide.
"R" sound
Children often struggle with the American "R" sound, sometimes pronouncing "red" as "wed." This difficulty can persist for several years as they master the sound. The host emphasizes that learning a first language takes a lot of work and practice, even after years of exposure.
Kids just go for it
Dory uses the word "line" when he means "ring," referring to the ring around a planet. The host notes that even she struggled to find the word "ring" momentarily. She admires how children try to communicate even when unsure of the vocabulary, which is a valuable lesson for language learners.
Conjunctions
Dory uses the wrong conjunction, "because," in a sentence where it doesn't quite fit. He understands the need for a linking word but chooses the incorrect one. A better word in this context would be "but."
"I was 2 years old"
Dory says "I had to" instead of "I was two," which the host suggests might be interference from French, where the expression is "I have 2 years old." This highlights how learning multiple languages can sometimes cause structural interference.
Kids ask questions all the time
The host comments on how young children often ask random questions, such as Dory's question about what lives in Play-Doh. Dory has recently learned about germs and is now constantly asking about them.
day care/child care
The host explains that daycare, also known as childcare, is where children go before starting school, typically before the ages of four or five.
Who are my friends?
Dory asks "what are my friends" when he means "who are my friends," demonstrating a common error in question formation.
I fell and tripped
Dory struggles with the simple past tense, saying "I fall and trip" instead of "I fell and tripped." He attempts to correct himself but still doesn't quite get it right, illustrating the difficulty children have with irregular verb forms.
I was running
Dory says "I running" when he should say "I was running," again showing difficulty with past continuous tense. The host concludes by emphasizing that children can teach adults a lot about learning languages quickly.
