How does face-to-face interaction impact language learning? Three researchers from the University of Washington performed an experiment with 9-10 month old babies that sheds some light on this question. [See citation below.] In their very pre-COVID study (from 2003) babies from English-speaking households were tested to see if they could distinguish the difference between two Chinese phonemes after 12 brief sessions with (1) live Chinese-speakers, or (2) after listening to audio or (3) viewing video recordings of the same Chinese-speakers. As a control group, some babies were only spoken to in English.

The results? The babies who only had the audio or audiovisual resources were distinguished between the phonemes no better than the babies who only were exposed to English. The AV resources added no benefit to their learning. But those with live Chinese-speakers performed significantly better.

I reflect on study now that remote learning is happening all around us. It would be interesting to have introduced a fourth experimental condition. What would be the impact of a synchronous video call with a live person? How would you predict language learning would be impacted? If the experiment was repeated with older children would the results have been the same?

Citation : Kuhl, P. K. Tsao, F. M., & Liu, H. M. (2003). Foreign-language experience in infancy: Effects of short-term exposure and social interaction on phonetic learning. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 100 (15), 9096-9101.