March_ts learn languages and achieve fluency faster, but with a wee bit of commitment and a lot of hard work, it can always be done ?
March_ts I have my own theory here ?
People always take as an example school kids who master a new language in no time, while their parents struggle over years.
But everyone forgets that the parents don't spend 8 hours a day being forced to learn and practice the language in class!
It's not a matter of being less able to learn as we age. It's a matter of having less time to dedicate for learning.
This week I met a former work colleague in his mid 30s. Last time I saw him, 2 years ago, he spoke no word of Chinese. Two years later he speaks fluent Chinese with the waiter in a restaurant and rapidly approaching the C1 level both spoken and written Chinese.
He spent 1 year in Taiwan learning Chinese 6 hours a day. And a year in Vienna taking night courses and working on his writing and pronunciation as often as he could. He works full time.
I think that, as we age, our brain is able to learn faster and better, because we build up on the experience we already have.
It does take time and perseverance, but it's the same for a child. And the child might need much longer actually. ?
