Today is the fourth class in our current August/September eight class set. We will start with a casual conversation. Next, we will discuss the news news. Today’s material is about reading. Please refer to the discussion questions. We will finish class with a phrase translation.

• Biological Adaptation: Since humans aren't born with an innate ability to read, how does this "co-opting" of brain regions change our development compared to purely oral cultures?

• Digital Literacy: Given that screen reading often leads to skimming rather than deep processing, what strategies can we use to maintain critical thinking skills in a digital-first world?

• Language Influence: If learning different writing systems, such as logographic versus alphabetic, activates different brain circuits, how might bilingualism provide unique cognitive advantages or protections?