According to common belief children grasp new languages more easily than adults. However, this doesn’t mean adults can’t also successfully learn new languages. Recent research from MIT establishes 17.4 years as the optimal age for gaining a native-like command of another language’s grammatical framework. However, the same research indicates that people older than eighteen can still acquire a foreign language rapidly, albeit they might not reach the same level of mastery as a native speaker. Here are five science-backed tips to learn a new language in adulthood.
Disclosure: Sponsored post.
Note: I am not a medical doctor. However, I have been teaching in higher education since 1994-in face-to-face, hybrid and online mode. I speak three languages fluently, one language enough to find my way, and learned Latin for 5 years. Recently, I taught a guest lecture on “What to Wear in Fairbanks in Winter Weather” for the Fairbanks Literacy Council.
What’s the Easiest Ways to Absorb New Words Wherever You Are
Every interaction with native speakers presents an opportunity to learn and master a new word when you’re learning a new language. Integrate these learning opportunities into your everyday life to help cement new vocabulary. Use sticky notes to label items around your home or workplace.
Rename the contacts in your phone to reflect your relationship with them to the respective word of the new language (e.g., mother, father, roommate, boss, sister). As a result, each time they message you, you’re exposed to that vocabulary. Before consuming any food, make it a habit to say its foreign name. You’ll be amazed at how rapidly your vocabulary expands with these practices.
Why to Go Online – The Usefulness of Apps and Online Classes
I have over a decade of experience in online teaching. When my students were to learn a lot of new technical terms, I created PlayPosit apps as a tool for active learning support. The apps showed the items and the students had to fill in the new terms. My colleagues from the language department used such apps successfully for teaching vocabulary.
However, you don’t have to enroll in college to benefit form such apps. Many language-learning apps are available for download, ranging from the gamified platforms like Duolingo and Mindsnacks to the more classical teaching methods found in Busuu and Babbel. These apps provide convenient access to compact vocabulary and grammar lessons; most are free or affordable.
Don’t forget to explore the unique features each app provides. For instance, if you’re trying to learn Spanish, many apps allow you to establish daily learning objectives within the platform or engage with fellow learners and native speakers thru chat functions for any queries. You can also attend online Spanish classes or other language classes.
Discover a Style that Suits Your Individual Way of Learning
From my more than 25-years of teaching experience, I know that people learn best when the material presentation matches their learning style. Some prefer visual/audial presentations, others reading. No wonder there are various tools, techniques, and styles for the journey of learning a language. It can feel quite intense to attempt them all. Therefore, it’s recommended to sample a few and choose the ones that align best with your learning style.
The possibilities are vast, from flashcards and grammar translations over crossword puzzles and quizzes to spaced repetition and immersive learning. Discovering the correct blend of techniques can advance your pace and is the most satisfactory.
Many resources are available – be it apps, websites, textbooks, or other materials, each applying different methods. Naturally, language courses typically present many ways to enhance your knowledge beyond the language.
Arrange Study Sessions Before Sleep Time
Scientific studies showed that sleep greatly benefits us by refreshing our active processing memory, enhancing our learning ability. Studying before sleeping or taking a nap after a study session aids in transferring the newly assimilated information into the long-term memory of our brain.
Upon reaching this stage, the information is securely stored for an extended duration. The method of spaced repetition can aid in strengthening the bridge between short-term and long-term memory, resulting in quicker and more precise recollection of details.
Join a Conversation Group and Form New Friendships
Should there be a group in your city that converts in the language you’re aiming to learn, begin to participate in their gatherings! Establishing friendships is a fantastic method to master a foreign language. Moreover, it’s the simplest approach to familiarize yourself with the local jargon, intonation, and gestures.
Engage in leisurely conversations with your friends at local coffee shops, pubs, and eateries to gradually establish a solid base in the language you aspire to learn.
The advantage of befriending people who are already fluent in the language (or are learning alongside you) is that it provides a safe space for practice without any feelings of self-consciousness or being under scrutiny!
Endnote on How to Learn a New Language in Adulthood
Look at your journey into a new language as a chance to commit to lifelong learning and to continue improving your existing skills. When you’re exploring the most effective ways to quickly learn a language, remember to include these scientifically endorsed strategies. They are designed to inspire and encourage you to reach your personal goals. Using the right method is also a way to improve your self-confidence in speaking, and the best selfcare to stay motivated.
References
Ellenbogen, J.M., Payne, J.D. and Stickgold, R., 2006. The role of sleep in declarative memory consolidation: passive, permissive, active or none?. Current Opinion in Neurobiology, 16(6), 716-722. doi:10.1016/j.conb.2006.10.006.
Hartshorne, J.K., J.B. Tenenbaum, and S. Pinker, 2018. A critical period for second language acquisition: Evidence from 2/3 million English speakers. Cognition, 177, 263-277. doi:j.cognition.2018.04.007.
Mölders, N. Academia – My Online Classes.
Morrow, E.L. and Duff, M.C., 2020. Sleep supports memory and learning: Implications for clinical practice in speech-language pathology. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 29(2), pp.577-585. doi:10.1044/2019_AJSLP-19-00125.
Featured photo by Syda Productions. Source: depositphotos.com.
© 2013-2024 Nicole Mölders | All rights reserved
Interesting to learn about the differences in Portuguese. It sounds that they are bigger than those between British and American English.
I loved learning languages at school and went on to study Italian at evening classes later on. I’ve been using Duolingo for the last four years to learn five languages – I’m not fluent in any yet but I now know enough French and Italian to get by. The Portuguese is proving harder because Duolingo only teaches Brazilian Portuguese and I want to learn European which sounds a lot different.
Emma xxx
http://www.style-splash.com
Thanks for sharing this idea. I follow your blog but can you follow mine Anita