The age factors in language learning

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The age factors in language learning
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There are individual differences not only between speakers of two languages but also between those who speak the same language. Perhaps the main factors causing such differences are natural, environmental, or cognitive. For example, a person’s natural ability and the surrounding environment are responsible for acquiring their first language, whereas there are cognitive factors responsible for learning a second or foreign language.
=== Taqdimot 3 ===
Is there an optimal age for second language acquisition? Everybody agrees that age is a crucial factor in language learning. However to which extent age is an important factor still remains an open question. A plethora of elements can influence language learning: biological factors, mother tongue, intelligence, learning surroundings, emotions, motivation and last but not least: the age factor.
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Lenneberg´s critical period hypothesis (1967) suggests that there is a biologically determined period of life when language can be acquired more easily. Beyond this time a language is more difficult to acquire. According to Lenneberg, bilingual language acquisition can only happen during the critical period (age 2 to puberty). The critical period hypothesis is associated with neurophysiological mechanisms suggesting that in late bilinguals the early and the late acquired languages are represented in spatially separated parts of the brain (Broca’s area). In early bilinguals, however, a similar activation in Broca’s area takes place for both languages. This loss of the brain´s plasticity explains why adults may need more time and effort compared to children in second language learning.
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The advantages of early second language acquisition
In early childhood, becoming bilingual is often an unconscious event, as natural as learning to walk or ride a bicycle.
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But why? According scientific surveys, language aspects such as pronunciation and intonation can be acquired easier during childhood, due to neuromuscular mechanisms which are only active until to the age of 12. Another possible explanation of children’s accent-free pronunciation is their increased capability for imitation. This capability fades away significantly after puberty. Other factors that we should take into consideration are children’s flexibility, spontaneity and tolerance to new experiences.
=== Taqdimot 7 ===
Kids are more willing to communicate with people than adults, they are curious and they are not afraid of making mistakes. They handle difficulties (such as missing vocabulary) very easily by using creative methods to communicate, such as non-verbal means of communication and use of onomatopoetic words. Also the idea of a foreign civilisation is not formed in their minds yet. Only at the age of 8 does it become clear to them that there are ethnic and cultural differences. Last but not least, aspects such as time, greater learning and memory capacity are in any case advantages in early language learning. On the other hand there are surveys which point out the risk of semi-lingualism and advise parents to organise language planning carefully.
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The advantages of late second language acquisition
First of all it is important to clarify that by late second language learning we mean learning a language after puberty. Linguists, psychologists and pedagogues have been struggling for years to answer the following question: is it possible to reach native-like proficiency when learning a language after puberty? In order to give an answer we have to consider the following factors: First of all, adults (meaning people after puberty) have an important advantage: cognitive maturity and their experience of the general language system.
=== Taqdimot 9 ===
Through their knowledge of their mother tongues, as well as other foreign languages, not only can they achieve more advantageous learning conditions than children, but they can also more easily acquire grammatical rules and syntactic phenomena. According to Klein Dimroth (see references), language learning is an accumulative process that allows us to build on already existing knowledge. Children cannot acquire complex morphological and grammatical phenomena so easily.
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It would be useful to point out that sometimes incorrect pronunciation is not a matter of capability but of good will. According to different surveys, adults do not feel like themselves when they speak a foreign language and they consider pronunciation an ethno-linguistic identity-marker. A positive or negative attitude towards a foreign language should not be underestimated. Another factor to consider is the adults’ motivation to learn a foreign language. When an adult learns a foreign language there is always a reason behind it: education, social prestige, profession or social integration. The latter is considered a very strong one, especially in the case of immigrants.
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What is cognition?
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In easy way it is a mental process used in:
Thinking
Remembering
Classifying
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The Critical Period Hypothesis is the ability to acquire language biologically linked to age. This hypothesis claims that there is a period of growth, from early childhood to adolescence, in which full native competence is possible when learning a language.
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Untill the age of 3 – acquisition of the languageafter the age of 3 – learning the language
First Language Acquisition (FLA) – autonomous; spontaneousSecond Language (SLA) – direct instruction; guidance
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There are many cognitive factors that affect language learning. Among the cognitive factors, there are memory, attention and awareness, forgetting, and context or environment in which the learning process takes place. Memory plays a part in bringing about a higher or lower level of language mastery.
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Conclusion
It is obvious that the language learning processes in adults and children have advantages and disadvantages. However, age is an important but not overriding factor. All people, regardless of age, perceive a language learning process differently and individually. Personality and talent can influence this process significantly: there are shy children and very communicative adults. My (the author’s) conclusion? It is advisable to encourage language learning at an early age.
=== Taqdimot 17 ===
The younger the child is, the more they can take advantage of neuromuscular mechanisms that promote language learning and thus reach a native-like level with less effort and time. Other advantages, such as increased communication abilities, better articulation, tolerance to foreign cultures and personal cognitive development, are among the benefits of early language learning. Yet this does not exclude effective language learning in adults. Under ideal learning situations, with motivation and a positive attitude, everybody can reach an excellent language level!
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Thank you for your attention!
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