So, what is the best age to learn a language? 🤔
Well, the best age to learn a language is indefinite! There isn’t any specific age for language learning for it is a lifelong learning process that can start at any stage of life.
Even though, it is usually said that kids are like sponges when it comes to language learning as they seem to effortlessly soak up new words, expressions, and even grammar rules as they grow. Not only that but also, but they can easily interact confidently with others without thinking about the language gap!
Let’s say, you put a Spanish child into an English group, and you would be amazed to find out that this child starts picking up the language, and even mimicking the other kids within just a few days. Unlike adult learners who would try to sometimes find other groups who speak the same language or are somehow similar, instead of mingling with other foreigners or native speakers of the country. Being shy is the reason that back them off! Adult language learners tend to sometimes get kind of shy and worried about making mistakes or being laughed at. Unlike children who never seem to bother about others’ reactions as their only concern is to play and enjoy themselves, they will never think about any obstacles.
However, that does not mean adults can never manage to learn a new language. Well, the truth is, they can! They can even mimic native speakers if they pay close attention and take it seriously. The learning journey might not be as fast as the children’s, however, adult learners are able to learn new languages and speak like natives. I spoke about the self-language learning steps that can be implemented by language learners and how possible for everyone to learn any language and speak like natives.
So, if you missed the opportunity to start learning at a young age, or are still interested in learning a new language later in life, worry less! As you know, our brains remain remarkably adaptable throughout adulthood. Although it’s true that younger learners may have some advantages in certain aspects of language learning, such as pronunciation, adults as well have their own strengths.
Among the advantages that Adult learners have is they can draw from their existing knowledge and experiences, which can speed up their learning journey. In other words, they have the ability to connect the new language to their mother tongue, which enables a deeper understanding of the language structures. Not only that, adult learners are able to keep themselves motivated and continue learning the language to succeed professionally. Their targets are always clear and that can drive them to reach.
So, whether you are a kid or an adult, the key to successful language learning lies in finding the language learning approach and style that suits you best.
How can you teach yourself a new language?
To learn a new language, you need to surround yourself with the language you wish to learn. So, you may listen to some music, watch movies, follow language learning accounts on social media, and . you really need to practice what you learn. If you simply buy language books and spend hours and days memorizing grammar rules, and words without practicing, you will simply forget them after some time.
This is the hard reality!! and I am being very honest with you! You can’t simply do that and expect to speak like natives. You need to practice what you learn. There are thousands or even hundreds of thousands of language groups that you can join to improve your language learning skills. I talked a lot about this point in different posts here and I recommend you to check them. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes; it’s all part of the learning process.
Besides, you need to set your language goals into achievable milestones. This advice is really important for you to put into practice if you need to teach yourself a new language! When you break your big goal into small ones, you can manage it really well without fail. Never set a goal like ‘I will learn a language in 6 months, so you would stress yourself with learning days and nights without even having a learning approach!’ Trust me, if you do that, you will lose hope in between and might even give up learning. If you want to learn a language in 6 months, you can break the goal into parts, like (listening to audio programs like podcasts for a few minutes a day, reading one page of a novel, learning one grammar rule and practice, etc). You need to organize your learning schedule to develop consistency.
So, whether you’re a young learner or an adult, the world of language learning is open to all! It is about being patient, consistent, and organized.
So, what do you think about today’s topic? I am eager to hear your thoughts in the comment section, and consider subscribing to our newsletter for more language learning tips 🤗
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