Latest language learning approach: drive a bus

[lavengro]

Link to a short article concerning an English-speaking bus driver who learned Punjabi largely from his passengers, and is now working on Gujarati.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/brampton-bus-driver-punjabi-1.5164011

[Speakeasy]

I saw this report on the CBC Television News. While I was quite impressed by his ability to pick up such a difficult language just from his contacts with passengers on his bus route, the thought crossed my mind that he had been doing so at the expense of concentrating on the traffic situation: you know, the other vehicles, the cyclists, the pedestrians, the road repair crews, and the like. All kidding aside, his behaviour was no more responsible than that of someone who “texts” while driving a motor vehicle.

EDITED:
Typos (not executed while driving)

[lavengro]

.... his behaviour was no more responsible than that of someone who “texts” while driving a motor vehicle.

I did not actually see the report on TV, just the internet link I distributed. In the two videos in the link illustrating the driver interacting with passengers in Punjabi in one and Gujarati in the other, the bus was fully stopped at a bus stop and in the process of loading passengers. Perhaps the TV spot showed more, but from what I have seen, he did not look particularly irresponsible, just irrepressibly chipper.

(ETA: I have now seen the TV spot - nope, no language learning interactions except for when bus is fully stopped and passengers in the process of getting on bus. I am supportive of cyclists and am pleased that no cyclists were mowed down by this maniac.)

In case anyone might be interested in alternate depictions of what Canadian public transport is really like, I have attached a link to a short video.

https://gem.cbc.ca/media/mind-fudge/season-1/episode-1/38e815a-0112047d335

The public transport issues start at around 1:40. Warning: in light of the drug chat in another thread, I have to warn that aspects of this video show massive drug (caffeine) usage.