Violetka

Just what the title of the thread reads..is it really ever too late to learn a language..I know its true that the older you get, the more difficult it is...or IS this even scientifically proven?

Anyways, how old were you when you all began to learn a new language (if you learned a new one that is)..and did you master it or did you have difficulties even until today?

I'm 23 and I would like to learn a few more languages while I am studying at the university..is it too late? Can I still successfully learn new languages or will it be too difficult for me?

Answers, opinions, share stories....ET..CET..ERA!

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dusio

A zatem, oczywistą jest rzeczą, że dzieci do lat 10 uczą się języków najlepiej, a to spowodowane jest szybkim ilościowym wzrostem połączeń synaptycznych w mózgu, jednakże nikt nie twierdzi, że wiek 23 to starość...A i w takim przypadku nie można powiedzieć, że człowiek starszy się niczego nie nauczy. Skądże znowu...Nauczy się, z tym, że nieco wolniej i po większej liczbie powtórek. Wracając do lat 23, czy też 22 ( mój wiek ) - mimo, że właśnie zaczęły nam obumierać neurony, nie musimy się aż tak bardzo martwić...Mamy ich tyle, że spokojnie starczy do śmierci ( naturalnej, oczywiście ). Jeżeli tylko się chce -świat stoi otworem, jak też i języki tego świata... Ja mam zamiar nauczyć się hiszpańskiego, włoskiego, łaciny i jak bóg, w którego nie wierzę dopomoże, to jeszcze i arabskiego...Ale trzeba na to mieć czas, bo nauka języka to nic innego jak ćwiczenie, ćwiczenie i jeszcze raz ćwiczenie...Zatem, może podczas kolejnych wakacji...bo w te mam co robić...oj mam...a w roku akademickim - oj nie polecam, szczególnie jeżeli jesteś jak ja perfekcjonistką i niewolnicą wzmożonego wysiłku intelektualnego i filozoficznej refleksji nad tym, co w egzystencji piszczy,a czasami nawet nazbyt donośnie skrzypi...

Violetka

You put it so lovely dusio...and yes you are right, we do have enough brain cells to last us until we die. Unless of course we decide to get drunk off our butts every weekend! LOL...that might kill off a few dozen o_O Maybe I should back off of partying for a little while hehehehe.

Its wonderful you want to learn Spanish. I have read many articles on the Spanish language, and am interested to find that it is one of the easiest languages to learn, that is, if you are natively an English speaker. Although I myself am not, I have mastered English to the point where I think I would be comfortable. I would also love to learn Spanish at some point, and as a bonus, I really do love school and I love to study. I think having a few languages under your finger is a major plus in today's very globalized and multicultural world!

I haven't been back home to Poland in years, but from family I heard that there is a wave of immigration into the country, from China, Arab nations, Vietnam, even Africa? Is this true? Must be fascinating for such a very small country with a majority of Polish people!

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dusio

Well, I can only say that in Poland it is easier now to see somebody who is black, or someone from Japan or...you know, but I would rather say that more polish people are going abroad to look for a decent job, coz here the economical situation is not as good as we would like it to be. You know, politics...and all that stuff...But yes, Poland is much more open nowadays, and we are learning English So, is quite good, I have to admit. But it still can be better...

Violetka

Is Russian and German still required in schools...or for that matter, is English a must now? I'm sure its changed alot since I actually WAS there. My parents are going down next month, and hopefully I can come next year.

That reminds me...do you ever watch M Jak Milosc? lol I'm so obsessed with that show. Takes up half my life haha

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dusio

So, English is must if you want to find a good job ( and at most of schools ), but you need to practice it on your own, because the level of teaching English at public schools is not very high, I'm afraid...But many people want to learn English and German and Russian and...other languages. In some schools German and Russian is required, but not in all schools. The English language is the most popular now.

There are many Polish people who speak many languages, but on the other side, there's a lot of Poles, who speak Polish only. So, the situation with languages is changing, but, you know, it takes time...

If it is about M jak miłość, yes I know what it is, but I'm not very interested in it, but my mother...she sure is. She just loves it. She watches every episode of it. Well, I'm not much of a M jak milosc fan, but I'm aware of the fact that M jak milosc exists. I do not have anything against it...

Heather77

I don't think you're ever too old to learn a new language. It may a bit tougher to do once you get older for some people, though. I taught myself Russian because my ex is from Ukraine. I bought a Russian/English pocket dictionary and started by teaching myself the alphabet and then using that against Russian newspapers. It took a while to do that by myself until I was around Russian all the time. Once I heard the speaking Russian I was able to pick up on it and started to read it a lot faster. I still have a problem reading it fast and I can't converse fluently. I do understand it when spoken though. Not all of it but enough to get by if I had to. I was 16 when I started to teach myself. My ex's mom still can't speak English all that well. She still has a hard time thinking about what to say and just prefers to speak Russian which doesn't help her in learning English. She came here when she was 32. She is now 47 years old.