Is there some people that just can not learn a foreign language?

Question

I am 18, and I have attempted to learn French through traditional classes and the Pimsleur method, so far none of them really works. It seems as if my brain is wired to think and speak English and has no room for another language. I really want to learn French its just I have trouble remembering the words and phrases and verb conjugations. I've been in French class for 1.5 years and can only understand less than 20 words.

I really do want to learn French, I just have no idea what the optimum learning method is. I tried the Rosetta Stone demo and I didn't like it.

Answer 1

I used to think that about myself. As a matter of fact, I tried learning Spanish in High School when I was 16. I failed first-year Spanish. I thought I was not capable of learning a foreign language until I was about 40, and my oldest daughter began taking Spanish in High School. At that time I realized that I still remembered quite a bit of Spanish, even though I failed the course, and there were 24 years between the two events.

I tried an experiment. I began teaching myself Esperanto (I had heard it was the easiest language on earth to learn). I'm now fluent in Esperanto, and have gone back and studied Spanish and German to the point of being, more-or-less conversational.

Anyone can learn a foreign language, some just learn faster than others. Different methods work with different people. You may be someone who can only learn through immersion. Keep looking at different course methods. Go to your local public library and try out different types of courses. You may find one that works for you.

If you "really want to learn French" don't give up.

Answer 2

I'm a linguist, and I do research in second language acquisition. That is the field of study that studies how people learn new languages. I have heard of people who seem to be able to learn faster than others, or to a higher proficiency than others, but I have never heard of people who cannot learn new languages.

Nevertheless, there are some factors that affect whether we do or do not learn new languages. A major one is the way by which we learn, which in your case could have a lot to do with the methodology that your teachers have selected. (I don't know anything about the Pimsleur method, so I can't give a criticism of that.) Also, the amount of exposure we have to the new language is another important factor that affects our language acquisition. The length of time between exposures is probably another. If you take a class, but then take a couple of semesters off, you will probably forget what you've learned. Other factors such as motivation and attitudes toward the target culture can have an effect as well.

I highly doubt that you are a person who is completely incapable of learning language. In fact, the fact that you can understand about 20 words shows that this is probably not true. Another possibility that I think could be true is that you might have unrealistic expectations about how quickly people are supposed to progress with a new language. I read a book chapter once by an American who lived in Italy. During the chapter she described many situations in which she was able to use Italian, such as visiting with neighbors, buying food at the corner stand, and shopping for a part at the hardware store. In the essay, however, she expressed that she thought she couldn't speak Italian because she wasn't able to translate Dante! She was so frustrated that she couldn't speak Italian, even though she was using Italian all the time! In other words, sometimes we only see what we look for. If our experiences don't meet our expectations, sometimes we think we aren't progressing as we should.

The remedy for that problem is to talk to your teacher and ask him/her what kind of progress most students make at your level.

While I was answering this question, I looked up the Pimsleur method on Wikipedia and I have to say that, if the description is true, I'm sorely disappointed by the methodology. So I think the previous answerer's suggestion to get a different teacher might be helpful. I recommend that you take your French classes at a community college from a person who has made a career as a French teacher, and who has a background in Linguistics (not a degree in French literature). Such people are the best-qualified to teach language, especially at the beginning level. You can also do many things on your own to help your French knowledge, such as listening to music in French, watching French-language movies, and reading materials in French. You don't have to understand everything; even if you understand just a little bit it will help you. The first time I did a major reading assignment in Spanish it was so difficult it literally gave me a headache, but now I am a very high-proficiency speaker of Spanish.

Please don't give up on language learning!

Answer 3

I suppose some people may not be able to learn a foreign language. But it may be more that you are not practicing
enough.

Use the internet to find some French radio stations and listen
to them. I did this while taking French and found that my understanding of what was being said increased greatly. I also watched French movies and now do not need the subtitles at all. I have been doing the same with Spanish, which is a little easier since there are lots of Spanish language radio and television stations on the air here in town.

For the conjugations, I would write them out, over and over, and
that helped.

Answer 4

Don't worry, I feel the same way. I try to learn and understand the concept at that moment, but as time goes by, I'll be thinking, " Will you repeat that? Since when did we learn that?!?!"

If you're really that desperate to learn (and if it's possible), perhaps you could spend some time in France, such as a month-long vacation, where you will be forced to speak French. You'll definitely learn, comprehend, and speak a lot better by doing that.

From what I recently heard, for example: My friend's foreign language teacher was offering trips to Spain. According to him, 3 weeks in spain is equivalent to 3 years of college Spanish classes because you'll be completely surrounded in a Spanish environment.


Anyway, I hope the best works out for you.

Answer 5

Some people have gifts. For some it is music, for some it is art, adn fro some it is language. It can be hard, and if you are putting your heart into it, maybe you just cant. I would say don't give up. Maybe try a differnet language (spanish, since it is generally easier). Once somebody learns a second language, ones after that come easier. It is because the mind is wired to work a certin way, and you then teach it another way.

If all else fails, try to improve your english. We have a huge ammount of words, the most in the world, so why not be the best English speaker you can!

Answer 6

If God didn't want you to learn languages, then why would he/she give you that 'ear?' There are many people, and you sound like one of them, that hear a language, and immediately begin to formulate the structure and grammar of it. Some say that I have that ear, though I speak only one language well - English, I also have studied Latin, Spanish, French and Italian, too. I doubt that any God reached down and confused languages because of a brick tower. Languages are formed from the commonality in identifying ideas, objects and actions.

Answer 7

I can sympathize...I took 4 years of French and still can't converse fluently in it but in school,they are determined to teach you the language grammatically rather than conversationally and that,I think, is why many of us go away doubting our ability to learn. The best way to learn is to hear the language spoken over and over by native speakers and that is how many of the commercial courses begin. You listen to ordinary conversational phrases spoken in the correct accent and believe me, you will begin to pick up here and there until you find you are suddenly able to recognize phrases in foreign films. Try getting a beginners course from the book store,one you can listen to while you drive,walk, run or anytime you are relaxing. Try just listening at first,without responding until you understand what you are hearing. I have done several languages this way and while I am not fluent in any, I can understand a lot of what I hear. Also, watch French films without looking at the subtitles to practice fine-tuning your ear.

Answer 8

Some of us just can't do it, just like some people cannot learn to read music.

Answer 9

Yes. There are people, but you're not one of them. You need a better teacher.

Answer 10

Yes!...& I am one of them becuz, Spanish is too complicated.