Why is it so hard to learn another language as an adult?

Question

I want to be extremely bilingual but it has been so difficult to pick up other languages that I am getting discouraged. This is not something I am expecting to happen overnight and I have put in a couple of years.

Answer 1

Many linguists believe that there is a limited period of time in which language acqusition can occur. This is known as the "Critical period Hypothesis." This period is thought to lasts from birth until around the age of 12 or puberty. Many linguists believe that if *no language at all* is learned during this period, it will never be learned in a normal or fully functional sense and that though language *can* be learned to perfection after this period, it will be on the syntactic level and speakers exhibit marked performance deficits in the language, most notably the lack of a native-like accent.
The base of this hypothesis is neurological research that suggest that after puberty brain functions become lateralized-- that is to say that certain functions become specifically left or right brain located. Aspects of language seem to be controlled by the left side. It is thought that before puberty, fuctions are not fully assigned to specific parts/sides of the brain. The brain is seen as elastic with the assignment/lateralization of brain functions occuring just after or during puberty.
Also, the the pre-pubescent brain is seen as more like a 'sponge', which absorbs all learning and knowlegde and experiences. The fact that language is absorbed to 'non-specici' parts of the brain is thought to make it easier on a younger child to learn and first and/or second language than an adult.

However, do not get discouraged. Use this knowlegde to concentrate on what needs the most work. To work on accent, do specific pronunciation drills and/or compare specific speech sounds of the first language to the second.

I would also add that this is not the only theory that is out there and not all liguists believe this theory.

There are other theories that deal with language appitude (as measured by standard tests) and attitude (affective variables) in second language acquisiton.
This theory is just the one I chose to write about and I know the most about.

Answer 2

Linguists don't completely understand the process yet, but before the age of 12, the brain is highly adaptable to language, whether one language or 4 languages. Children learn language at an astonishing rate without formal training, just by hearing it used among their playmates. After 12, the brain actually turns off the language learning ability in most people. That is also the beginning of the onset of puberty in many societies. So it seems that there is a cognitive relationship between the cessation of easy language learning and the onset of puberty--the onset of breeding behavior.

Answer 3

Please, remember that the Critical Period Hypothesis is only that ...a hypothesis. Althought there is strong support for it. There is also strong support against it.

I think that the Critical Period Hypothesis only accounts for a small percent of language learning ability because the only thing the findings consistently show is that usually children who learn a foreign language before puberty have little to no accent in the foreign language while the adult usually retains an accent. Some researchers don't even belief this because they believe many adults have an accent because they don't want to for various reaons some which are intentional because children know that the accent goes with the foreign language while some adults have discovered that you don't have to use an accent just to speak a foreign language which is sort of embarassing to adutls. Try practicing an accent you've heard on T.V. It feels silly doesn't it? especially if in front of other people while it feels more natural to children. Anyways while I believe it may be the case for some adults...it's hard too believe that all adults learning a foreign have this problem.

I think the only reason you hear so much about the Critical Period Hypothesis is because it sells the expensive language programs for kids. Don't get me wrong though the the earlier you start, definitly the better and the more benefits.

Anyways please remember that there are plenty of reasons children may seem like they learn a language faster than adults.

1. Generally, it takes children shorter periods to become fluent because they generally need to know fewer words than adults. Think about child and adult conversation.
Child Converstaion:
Child One: What do you like to do?
Child Two: Ride my bike.
Child One: Oh me too.
Adults need to learn this basic conversation approach to, but two adults would sound weird having this conversation. So, now they have to learn a better more adult way to say it i.e. What are your hobbies? I enjoy cycling on the weekends but I have to work during the week. Same basic conversation as the children with "bigger" words and plus they have to learn job vocab which kids don't need and other vocab that children don't need to be fluent.

2. Generally children are more outgoing and less afraid than adults to go out there and practice that language and make mistakes. Ever get those kids who just come up to you in a store and start talking. Plus it's cute when kids make mistakes. While adults who make these same grammer mistakes may feel silly. Adults may also get weird looks for speaking a foreign language badly.

3. Children have more time in general to learn a foreign language. Adult don't.

4. Children have less at stake learning a foreign language. They are playing and at school which provides plenty of oppurtunity to learning a language consequences free. While it is generally not smart for adults who are learning a foreign language to make work/business decisions in a language you don't know well. Ex. you might only want to invest 300, but you accidently say 3000 or worse 300,000,000.

Sorry if I wrote too much, but I hope this helps.

Please don't be discouraged. Maybe what discourages you is all the grammer. Children the don't learn grammer first to learn a language. They learn words according to their interests. Like those little boys who can name a whole entire team of players because they watch games with dad. Try watching films, tv, and magazines on subjects that interest you in the foreign language. Learn only vocabulary that interests you and simple phrases that you need. You might find it more enjoyable and your vocab. will increase because you will what to know what they are saying instead of just learning systematically.

Try a more childlike approach.

Answer 4

This is a question that many linguistic researchers, including myself, are very interested in. Although we know that there is a difference in the process and product of child and adult language acquisition, knowing the reason why is very difficult, since it involves the language acquisition system, which we can't see because it is part of the mind.

Nevertheless, we are aware of some things that seem to work rather well, and some things that definitely don't work for adults when learning new languages. I'll just give you some brief advice here:
1. Try to get as much exposure as possible to material in that language that you understand. It seems that language acquisition is partly a function of the amount of input that you get in that language. (This makes sense, right? because if you don't put anything in to your mind, how can you expect something to be in there?) Many people make the mistake of trying to practice something that they haven't heard very much of. Making sure that you get both input and practice will help your knowledge of that language to develop. Listening and reading are both good ways of providing yourself with appropriate input. If you are taking a class and the teacher isn't speaking to you most of the time in the target language, sign up for another class.

2. Don't spend too much time trying to look up words in your dictionary or translating between your native language and the target language. Back in the 60s and before, people often tried to teach language by translation. This produced a whole generation of people who could do translation exercises, but still didn't know how to listen to or speak the language they were attempting to learn. I'm learning German right now, and I hardly ever find occasion to look up a word in German. If you don't understand the word, and it's not important for the main idea, just skip it. Looking up many words in a reading is frustrating because by the time you've looked up enough words to translate the sentence, you've forgotten half of them. If you are reading material in which you don't understand many of the words, switch to something more familiar or easier.

3. Another thing that we know definitely doesn't work for adults is memorizing and reciting dialogues. An entire generation (the one after the translating one) attempted to learn language by memorizing and reciting dialogues, or doing a lot of exercises where they repeated very similar sentences over and over. The reason this doesn't work, we think, is because the words are not really connected with their meanings. Unless you are using the language to get meaning or give meaning to someone else, it doesn't seem to go into right part of your mind. In other words, make sure that whenever you are doing something with this language, it is real communication instead of just mindless repitition.

4. Don't give up. I am glad that you have identified that it sometimes takes a while to acquire a new language to the level that you want. I think you can also take a look at your expectations and see whether they are realistic. For one thing, most adults who learn new languages never produce perfect sentences with perfect accents all the time, so if this is your goal, you might continue to be frustrated. That doesn't mean that you can't communicate in the language, however. I am a second-langauge speaker of Spanish, for example, and though I make mistakes from time to time, it seems to me that Spanish speakers are quite tolerant of mistakes, as long as you are communicative enough to be able to share your opinions and carry on a conversation. If you are able to meet your communicative goals, who cares if you sound just like a native speaker or know the difference between the pluperfect and the preterite?

I hope this advice has been helpful. I think it's marvelous that you are interested in learning new languages. As I mentioned, I'm learning German right now, and I'm basically a high beginner with that language, so I think I know where you're at. I'm behind you 100%!

Answer 5

as a child you have a better ability to imitate sounds and to memorize things. the best age to start learning a language is 4 to 10. later on you loose that ability and it gets harder. but, some ppl are simply not talented for foreign languages while other are. just as some are not good at maths or sports.

Answer 6

People (and, for that matter, various species of animals) have what is termed "critical period". If you learn *any* new skill during its critical period, you can do it. If you miss the critical period, you will either never learn it, or learn it imperfectly. This is true of many skills, not just language. The critical period for language learning is birth to age 10-15 (depending on the individual). If you learn 2 or more languages during the critical period, it is easier to learn other languages later on, although it *still* takes a lot more work than if you learn them earlier.

Answer 7

In part because the older a person gets, the more ingrained their native language becomes, thus interferring with their ability to learn new languages.

Answer 8

Have you studied abroad? This is one of the best ways to solidify language use. If you can't for some reason, watch movies, read books (even children's books), talk to yourself, write lists of likes, dislikes, etc. It does take longer, the older you get, but it's not impossible. Keep at it, it's worth it.

Answer 9

There is something in your brain, I forgot what it is, but once you reach puberty, you lose it. That is why children can learn a language fast, and it takes adults longer.

Answer 10

concentrate more and make some interest on learning other language, you will see the result.