Today we are looking at whether or not children really are better language learners than adults.

When you look at the research, the overwhelming evidence seems to point to the fact that children are fantastically effective language learners and that adults are, in fact, fantastically poor ones. We hear this so often that it’s easy to take it for granted, especially in the domain of language learning. Children are obviously marvellously skilled language learners who can master a language in a fraction of the time an adult could and there are a few reasons why.

During early childhood, the brain is highly elastic, meaning it has a greater ability to adapt and reorganise itself. This allows children to acquire new languages more easily. They have an innate capacity to absorb and process linguistic information, including sounds, grammar, and vocabulary. When it comes to learning the pronunciation of a new language, children have a better ability to mimic and reproduce new sounds more accurately. They can pick up on subtle phonetic nuances and acquire native-like pronunciation more easily. This advantage diminishes with age as the speech muscles and auditory perception become more fixed. Children are often immersed in their first language from birth, surrounded by native speakers. This consistent exposure to the language provides them with ample opportunity to practise and refine their linguistic skills. In contrast, adults learning a new language may have a different level of immersion or exposure, making it more challenging to achieve fluency.

Children are typically less self-conscious and more willing to take risks in language learning. They are not afraid of making mistakes or sounding imperfect, which allows them to experiment and practise without hesitation. Adults, on the other hand, may be more self-conscious and may fear making errors, which can hinder their language acquisition process. How many times have you avoided interacting in a foreign language because you were afraid to mess up? Or told yourself that the time for speaking will come someday, but not today? As an adult language learner, all of those doubts and limiting beliefs only slow you down. As a child learning to speak your mother tongue, you didn’t have any of that. You just used the language to cooperate, play, and communicate.

While children have certain advantages in language learning, it doesn’t mean that adults cannot become proficient in a new language. Adults bring their own strengths, such as prior knowledge and cognitive abilities, which can aid in comprehension and learning complex grammar structures. Additionally, adults can employ effective learning strategies, set clear goals, and leverage their existing language skills to accelerate their progress.

The truth is that human beings best acquire language simply through a positive environment, no matter their age. If you can develop a solid grasp of a language, you can use this to your advantage to greatly accelerate your learning—especially if you move to a foreign country and create an environment that mimics many of the advantageous conditions that child learners often find themselves in.

So, no matter how old you are now, as you read this article, no matter what your language experience is, you can learn any language if you want to.