As children, we tend to be able to pick up new languages much faster than when we grow older. Picking up a foreign language can be tough, but there are studying methods that, scientifically, could help you at any age! Read to find out more!
When they are young, many children are taught and spoken to in multiple languages. They are often raised as bilingual when they speak different languages at school and at home. Even starting from a young age, children are able to recognize and understand sounds and spoken language relatively fast!
Multiple studies have shown that the best age to learn and become fluent in new languages is ten years old and below. In the past, scientists referred to this time period as the critical period, the stage between childbirth and puberty, where children's brains are still developing which make them able to learn skills with more ease. To learn new languages, children use the "deep motor area" of their brain, which is what performs unconscious actions. This makes language learning an unconscious process for them, and they are able to pick up words and their meanings without conscious effort.
Furthermore, they have the ability to distinguish between different sounds and learn what they mean since they do not yet have a standardized way of speaking. Because they do not have a specific mindset of which pronunciations are right and which are wrong, they are easily able to pronounce unfamiliar sounds. For example, the Japanese language doesn't have the "R" sound, so when Japanese English learners speak English, they sometimes can't pronounce it, and pronounce it as the "L" sound instead. On the other hand, children are not yet accustomed to a specific language, and have not deemed the standardized way of speaking, allowing them to create those unfamiliar sounds easily.
On that note, children tend to be more open-minded when learning new words and sounds. They are often able to unconsciously imitate them without thinking too much into it. In addition, they also are willing to make more mistakes and be corrected as they practice frequently. Since they are able to imitate these new sounds and retain them, they can speak without heavy "foreign" accents. Additionally, this early stage in life of the brain allows them to retain and pronounce new words.
Furthermore, multilingualism proves to be beneficial for young children to acquire. Research data has shown that people who speak two or more languages have strengthened brain function. This is because their brains are constantly changing shape and creating networks to be able to manage different languages. Additionally, their ability to switch between the different languages strengthens their brain function.
Now, why is it harder and why does it require more effort for adults to learn new languages? Some scientists and researchers suggest that it is not actually more difficult for adults to learn foreign languages. In fact, it has been suggested that adults undergo a different process than children in order to do so. Children unconsciously pick up words and sounds while adults and teens consciously devote time and effort to learn languages. The fear of making mistakes and trying to avoid messing up also makes them less likely to put their learned language to use, and in turn decreases the amount of practice they get.
Furthermore, since adults already have knowledge of at least one language, they often try to apply their preexisting knowledge while learning. This means that if a component in the language they're trying to learn differs from the one they already know, they will have a harder time applying this new grammar structure or pronunciation since it conflicts with their existing knowledge.
However, although learning a language takes more time for older people, it is definitely very possible. People can learn new languages at any age! Here are a few tips that can scientifically help you pick up a new language:
Constantly practice pronouncing the difficult sounds in the foreign language. Don't put all the focus on picking up actual words and learning grammar structures until you've mastered the sounds and diction that can help you avoid speaking with an accent.
Practice a little everyday. Your brain tends to forget things if they are not actively being reinforced, so doing this helps you retain that information.
Study before going to sleep! When you sleep right after learning new information, your brain stores this in your long-term memory.
Expose yourself to the language in forms of media, such as reading articles and watching or listening to videos. Only studying textbooks won't help you learn the context of all the words and how to use them. A far more effective way of learning is by seeing and hearing how people actually use them in the language.
Hope these tips are helpful for you to apply to your language-learning endeavors. Thank you for reading!
References:
Prokopets, Elena. “7 Ways To Learn a New Language Faster (Backed by Science).” Lifehack, 26 Nov. 2019, www.lifehack.org/388894/7-ways-learn-foreign-language-faster-that-are-backed-science.
Schön, Natasha. “Is It Really Easier for a Child to Learn a Second Language?” Brainscape Academy, 8 Mar. 2021, www.brainscape.com/academy/easier-for-child-to-learn-second-language.
Wlassoff, Viatcheslav. “Why Do Children Learn Foreign Languages So Easily?” Brain Blogger, 14 Feb. 2018, www.brainblogger.com/2018/02/14/why-children-learn-foreign-languages-easily.
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