When we talk about language learning, younger people usually have the upper hand and can handle the task easier.
But what about adults? Can we still learn languages?
Absolutely. Although adults may have a harder time learning to “speak” the language, their ability to “comprehend” the language isn’t affected that much throughout their lives.
But how exactly does a parent differ from a child in terms of their ability to acquire a language?
Here’s what research tells about this topic that I think you should know.
How Does Language Learning Differ In Adults?
Generally, younger people have an easier time learning a language. Even babies have been proven to learn multiple languages simultaneously as early as 11 months old.
So how does it differ if you’re learning as an adult?
It’s possible that the physical aspect of language learning is what adults have a difficulty with. Speaking, for instance, requires physical movement of your mouth and specific positioning of your tongue in order to produce the right sound, tone, or accent. Such a task becomes harder with older age.
The good news is, it was found out that comprehension is less affected by age. Both hemispheres of our brains are capable of handling comprehension, while only the left hemisphere is in charge of handling speech (unless it becomes injured and the right hemisphere takes over).
When all is said and done, it seems to me that as adults, we’d be better off focusing more on any task related to comprehension, such as reading and listening, because we can handle them pretty well.
On the other hand, if you want to speak well on a foreign language, expect to struggle a bit when practicing your speaking skill. You can instead focus on learning new languages that are similar to your native language.
Conclusion: Is It Too Late to Learn a Language?
Language learning can be a daunting task, especially if you’ve missed the golden ages.
You might struggle to speak more naturally compared to younger learners.
But that doesn’t mean it’s too late to acquire one today.
Especially if you have powerful enough reasons to pursue a specific language, that alone could justify the struggles you’ll personally go through.
Enjoy the process, worry less about the struggles, and you’ll do just fine.
Have you learned a foreign language as an adult? How difficult (or easy) was it to you? Care to share some of your thoughts and insights?
