Learn Foreign Language Center

I learned Spanish when I was 22. I had graduated from college as a Math teacher and had no plans of ever being bilingual. I had taken 4 years of French in high school and hated it.

When I made the decision to study Spanish, no one believed me. (Just for reference, this was in 1982, a time when learning foreign languages wasn’t a big deal in the US). Their reaction was along the lines of, “Your time has already come and gone.” In other words, for others, age was a factor.

To make a long story short, I became fluent, got certified as a Spanish teacher and had a chance to quiet the naysayers.

What did I think back when people told me I had “missed the boat” as far as learning a foreign language was concerned? I usually got depressed and anxious. After all, I didn’t know anyone else who had learned Spanish after graduating college.

I was influenced by what people said. I’m sure others in the same position ended up quitting. Luckily for me, I didn’t.

A lot of time has passed since I learned Spanish. Nowadays, there are more and more people studying languages in Adult Ed. classes and online. Yet, I still hear a lot of comments from people who would love to speak another language but feel it’s too late.

When I ask them what they mean by “it’s too late,” they usually come up with things like:

- your brain doesn’t capture language after a certain age.

- your brain can’t hear the language.

- your brain can’t process as quickly, etc.

The list could go on and on. Unfortunately, when I ask them where they got their information, they don’t have an answer. They don’t know where they heard it but they are convinced it’s true.

Perhaps if they knew of a study in 2001 by the Foreign Service Institute which found that adults have an advantage in becoming bilingual, they would change their minds. The reason is simple: Adults have already “learned how to learn.”

According to the study, “A motivated adult with reasonably good language- learning skills in a good instructional program will develop a set of core grammatical structures and a range of useful vocabulary faster and more firmly than children will.”

I don’t know if I’d go so far as to say that adults have an advantage but it is definitely not the disadvantage that so many believe it is.

Naturally, children have a more carefree attitude towards making mistakes and that helps them progress quicker. But any adult can adopt the same attitude a child has. After all, you ARE learning a second language! You’re the one that is stretching yourself to learn something new. That should be a point of pride. And mistakes are part of the learning process.

In conclusion, if you are interested in learning a foreign language, make sure that you take into consideration the time you have, the interest level and the resources.

And don’t think for a minute about your age!

By: Jim Sarris

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Learning Spanish Alternatives

How difficult would it be to solve a problem in algebra if you only knew addition? You guessed it, close to impossible.

Without the necessary skills to perform anything, you’re lost.

Well, guess what? If you’re struggling as a language learner, there’s a good chance you need a certain skill to help you move forward faster and easier.

But I’m not talking about learning another tense or 20 more adjectives. I’m not talking about more discipline or will power. I’m not even talking about having more contact with native speakers.

If you have all the materials you need, and a great desire to learn a foreign language, then there’s something else holding you back.

Do you know what that is?…Your mindset.

Your problem is you don’t think you can do it. Whether you had a bad experience in foreign language class, or a terrible track record as a student, or you believe others who say you’re too old, you are stuck.

You spend money on learning language programs, slave over the books and audios, and then give up. Why? Because deep down you don’t think you can do it.

Your biggest obstacle is “you” and the way you think. The doubts, fears and disappointments play tricks on your mind and you’re unable to fight back.

So, you’re stuck in “No-Learning-Land.” The language program goes in the closet and your hopes go with it. For some people, that means hundreds of dollars down the tubes. It could also mean the end of a dream of communicating with others in another language. Worse still, it could end any hope of getting a particular job or promotion.

Is there a solution? Of course. There are plenty of ways to change a mindset and believe you can learn. In some cases, the reasons for all the “negative thinking” could be very simple and thus, easily corrected.

One reason may be that the foreign language teacher in your high school was a jerk and didn’t care. You got turned off because of the approach, not because of your ability.

Another reason could be that your language teacher was great but you didn’t pay attention. (Gee, how many kids in high school don’t pay attention?) Happens all the time.

Finally, maybe you just weren’t a good student because you never understood “How to Learn.” (Better late than never!).

Your mindset represents the missing link. With it, you can learn anything. Without it, you’re in big trouble.

Learn how to harness that power and your confidence rises, your results soar and your desire for more blows through the roof. It’s the only way to go.

And once it changes, not only will your ability to learn a foreign language improve, but your whole perspective on learning will be positively effected.

By: Jim Sarris

About the Author:

Rocket Spanish Review