Why do some people seem to find learning a 2 nd language easy?

Question

Apart from an alleged gender bias in second language learning.. I wonder how & why some folks seem to learn another language easily; some find it difficult ,& some simply fail. Any ideas why? Thanks

Answer 1

I think it has a lot to do with a love of language, hence people are more likely to stay focused. But still, even for us language lovers (I speak 4 languages and then some), we still have a lot of hard work to do in order to speak it coherently. We just LOVE the hard work and are less likely to stop learning.

Answer 2

The English language is so complicated that we would rather speak another language and prefer to do so than to speak English. Some find it extremely difficult to learn another language as they would prefer the universal language but others would like to learn another language so that they can converse with other people and make it easier on them and the other person speaking a foreign language. It goes by preference; other times by force. But it all depends.

Answer 3

Some people have a knack for languages, but others learn because communication in that language is a priority - whether it's for business, for personal reasons, for travel or necessity. Regardless of the situation, learning a second language is not that easy once you become an adult, but it can definitely be a fun and rewarding experience.

Answer 4

It depends on many factors: (1) the amount of language (called L2) input you're getting, (2) the degree of similarity of your L1 with the L2, (3) the learning environment, etc.

Here's an example: Filipinos have a certain facility in expressing themselves in English because the many of the available media in the Philippines is in English and English is early on. Also, Filipinos usually find it easier to learn Spanish than do the Chinese because Filipino, the national language, has many terms borrowed from Spanish.

Answer 5

The great thing about second languages is even idiots can learn them . . . they are more easily learned out of necessity though. Anyone who goes overseas to a country where *not a soul* speaks English, will definitely learn in a matter of a month, what most high school kids can't learn in 4 years.

A lot of it is attitude . . . if you really need a language to communicate . . . you WILL learn it, whether you like learning it or not.

Answer 6

I guess it's just because everyone is different, and people have different talents and abilities.

Some people are good at learning how to play the piano, and some just don't ever get it. Same with other things, including learning a language.

Answer 7

Depends on person's mind qualifications and ability to learn, physically it depends on the left brain where the activity language centre. I'm into the 3rd language now.

Answer 8

Well I travel a lot and both my parents and relatives are at least bilingual. And so I guess I learned different language from them and my travels...

And the key to success in learning to master different languages is " don't ever get embarrassed! lol =D

Answer 9

If one has a full control of the first language, has knowledge about it's grammar and rules, then it would be easier to learn the second one.

Answer 10

they have got the talent like myself.I know 4 languages .I learnt it well but not easy.I did my best so it is never easy.You have to do your best and some people are just lazy.