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The Surprising Reasons Why Language Learning Is So Hard
Why Adults Struggle And How to Overcome It
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Learning a new language as an adult often feels like climbing a mountain — without a map, shoes, or a sense of direction. I’m already behind on my Spanish and Chinese goals for the new year and we’re only a week in. In Japanese, I’ve fumbled through conversations I realized halfway through I wasn’t prepared for, stared blankly at a word I swear I’ve seen before, and tried to memorize endless vocabulary lists, only to forget every single word at least once. Sound familiar? Don’t worry; we’re not alone. Language learning is challenging, even if you’re able to go to a school to do it. Let’s explore why it’s hard and how a childlike curiosity can help you get through those more difficult slumps.
So, Why Is It So Hard to Learn a Language as an Adult?
The Brain’s Set Ways
As children, our brains are like sponges, eagerly soaking up sounds, words, and grammar. This is thanks to a phenomenon called neuroplasticity, which peaks during childhood. As we age, our brains become more specialized and less flexible, making it harder to learn new patterns like those in a foreign language. But don’t despair —…
