The Best Time To Start Learning

Foreign Languages

There are many myths regarding the best time to start learning foreign languages. Of course, children probably find it easier to pick up languages, but then it does not mean that adults cannot learn a new language as well. Let us look at how children and adults learn languages.

Learning Foreign Languages as Children

According to the renowned linguist Noam Chomsky, children learn languages easily because they have an inbuilt system that is tuned towards picking up whatever language they are exposed to.

However, research goes against this “innateness” theory. Here are some points that go against it-

1) Children keep learning the intricacies of language for at least 10 years, before they have mastered it. This goes contrary to the Chomskyan belief that language is a natural instinct.

2) Language learning in children is not as effortless as it seems. They have to learn the language because they have no choice.

3) Children do not learn only from their parents. They also learn languages when they go out into their neighbourhood and community. Therefore, a child who learnt to speak Spanish since birth at home may go out into a community of English speaking people, and pick up English as naturally. In fact, he or she may even start speaking English at home, much to the dismay of his or her parents.

Therefore, if you are an adult keen on learning foreign languages, then you should not be disheartened. You still have time.

Learning Foreign Languages as Adults

Learning foreign languages as an adult is not as difficult as some may claim. Remember that there are certain conditions under which adults can learn foreign languages very well.

1) Full time: If you spend your entire waking hours studying a particular language, and get completely immersed in it, like a child, then learning a second language is not going to be difficult.

2) Social Embarrassment: Children risk social embarrassment if they fail to learn the language of their peers. It is this fear that motivates them to learn the language of the community. If adults had same motivations for learning foreign languages, they would find it easier to learn them.

This means that learning foreign languages for adults will be faster if they think there are left with no other choice. If you have to interact with someone in a foreign language, then you will learn the language no matter what. Being completely immersed in a different culture speeds up the process of learning foreign languages for adults.

We can thus see that there is no “best” time for learning foreign languages. It depends upon the need and motivation. The greater your need for learning foreign languages; the higher will be your motivation, and faster the learning process.