One Key difference between human interaction and even the most sophisticated educational tool is that interpersonal exchanges engage all the senses – sight, sound, smell, taste and, very important, touch.”

What are the implications of Dr Kuhl’s research for you, a student interested in acquiring a second language? Even though her research is based on first language acquisition AND in babies, and although there are some differences between first and second language acquisition as well as child and adult language acquisition, a fact remains the same:

In order to acquire a language you need someone to interact with!

This raises too many questions about the effectiveness of those so called “failiure-proof” language programs on DVD or CD roms, aimed at replacing the teacher or even any contact with the real Spanish world. Why? Because even if they were the best materials that money can buy, there is something they cannot provide you with:

INTERACTION Many say they are interactive, just because you have to do something yourself for the computer to continue or assess you. But is that really interaction? Not in the least. No program at present has the capability of following even a basic conversation with anyone, either native or non-native speaker. They can just process simple responses and offer no real sample or feedback on how the language is used in the real world. Those materials could be considered, in the best of cases, good supplements to a language course given by a real human being. However, stating that they are the “ultimate solution” or “the only tool you will even need” or even stating that they “Immere you completely in your new language so you’ll learn quickly and retain what you learn” is downright false.

Dr Kuhl’s findings go in line with those of Stephen Krashen’s, probably the most authoritative word in the field of Second Language Acquisition. Stephen Krashen (University of Southern California) is an expert in the field of linguistics, specializing in theories of language acquisition and development. Much of his recent research has involved the study of non-English and bilingual language acquisition.