Ever said, “I’d love to learn a language like Spanish, French, or Japanese. But my brain’s not what it used to be.”
Here’s your cue to stop right now. Because the latest research shows age is no barrier to picking up a new tongue. In fact, it might even give you an edge.
This is PROOF older adults in their 60s – 80s can absolutely learn a language – and make a really good job of it, without excessive brain strain.
Why There’s Golden Potential in Grey Matter
Ageing causes hearing, vision, and processing speed to slow a little. But this is a lifetime of experience kicking, rather than cognitive deficit.
Karen Roehr-Brackin of the Department of Language and Linguistics at University of Essex explained in her recent article Your age shouldn’t put you off learning a new language – what the research says for academic news analysis site The Conversation:
“In this context, it is also important to highlight the fact that general and especially verbal knowledge can actually grow with increasing age.”
In short, you’ve simply got more knowledge to sift through. It takes time. But your verbal skills and general knowledge often improve over the decades.
It’s What You Do, Not How You Do It
Roehr-Brackin’s study found the end results are the same, whether you learn a language:
- Explicitly – with detailed grammatical explanations
- Implicitly – by immersion and practice
In addition, she also spotted some fascinating patterns in terms of mindset and social status, such as:
- You’ll pick up new grammar and vocab more easily when you’ve got positive self-belief you can do it.
- You’ll learn faster if you’re still working or socially active than if you’re retired and slowing down.
The takeaway? Confidence, curiosity, and connection keep your brain in learning mode. And learning a new language is a prime example of doing just that.
Age is No Excuse Not to Learn a Language
At la Academia, there’s no expiry date on language learning. Just fresh opportunities to surprise yourself – and any doubters!
Get in touch for a chat about the language you’ve always wanted to learn. You might be astonished to find the only thing stopping you is yourself.