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Ep191. ft. Rachel Paling - Fear, Identity, and Fluency (Part 1)
Fear, Identity, and the Brain: Why Language Learners Freeze
Why do learners freeze when speaking a language they already know?
In Episode 191 of the Languages Pedagogy Podcast, Mike sits down with Rachel Paling to explore the neuroscience behind language anxiety and why fear can silently block fluency.
Most language learning struggles are not caused by grammar or vocabulary gaps. They are rooted in the brain’s emotional response system. When learners experience stress or fear, the amygdala activates the fight–flight–freeze response, draining the cognitive resources needed for communication…
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