In this episode I am once again joined by Dr Alexander Arguelles, linguist, world-renowned polyglot, and scholar of comparative religion.

Dr Arguelles continues the biographical thread taken up in his previous episode, recalling, after his years of intense language study in Korea, accepting a Professorship in Lebanon to immerse in Arabic and later fleeing the country with his family as war erupted there. Dr Arguelles recalls teaching positions in California, Singapore, Dubai, and the language immersions that those posting facilitated.

Dr Arguelles also critiques current trends in the American university system, compares it to the past, proposes alternative structures and reformations, and offers his thoughts on the future of academia.

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Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep207-wandering-polyglot-dr-alexander-arguelles-2

Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.

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Topics Include:

00:00 - Intro

02:54 - Accepting a professorship in Lebanon to immerse in Arabic

05:26 - Reflecting on learning Arabic

08:19 - Mental technique to turn off the English mind

09:18 - Fleeing Lebanon when war broke out

15:01 - Teaching at the New College of California

19:27 - :Early activity on ‘How To Learn A Language’ forum

21:47 - How would Professor Arguelles reform education in America today?

26:11 - Learning 4 languages at once

32:30 - Teaching in Singapore as a Language Specialist

35:14 - Collaboration with linguist Paul Nation

38:34 - Teaching adults vs university students

42:42 - Accepting a professorship in Dubai and more Arabic immersion

40:03 - Being studied as a polyglot and learning Hebrew

51:08 - The rich story tradition of Arabic

53:47 - Death of Prof Arguelles’ brother

56:07 - Homeschooling his sons in multiple languages

58:51 - Mixed experiences at the Concorida Language Villages in Minnesota

01:08:59 - Professor Arguelles Academy

01:12:23 - Criticisms of academia and today’s University system

01:21:29 - Predicting the future of Universities in the USA

01:23:30 - Language learning as meditation

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Previous episode with Dr Alexander Arguelles:

- https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep199-path-of-the-polyglot-dr-alexander-arguelles

To find our more about Dr Alexander Arguelles and his Academy, visit:

- https://www.alexanderarguelles.com/academy/

For more interviews, videos, and more visit:

- https://www.guruviking.com

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James