If you have always wanted to learn how to speak German, or Italian, or Spanish or even Klingon, it is probably already too late for you.
According to a new study, it seems that the optimal age for learning a new language and speaking it like it is your native tongue is before the age of 10.
Unless there are a bunch of 7 and 8 year olds reading the newspaper that I don’t know about, I would say that everyone reading this is out of luck.
OK, so how about learning a new language and just being able to speak it well? That same study says that after the age of 17 or 18, the ability to be skilled at a new language starts to drop off.
Now, it is still possible to learn a new language as you get older, it is just much more difficult and your success is not as complete.
Not that most Americans are that interested in learning a new language. Heck, most people don’t even know English very well. Do you know the difference between “to” and “too?” And you know that when you say you “don’t know nothing,” it means you know everything, right?
I studied English in college and still struggle with the language. It simply doesn’t make much sense and has way too many rules.
I am like plenty of other people and always wanted to learn a second language. Spanish made the most sense, as I was raised on the border. I do know some Spanish, but it is mostly asking where the bathroom is and plenty of cursing that I learned on the playground.
Americans generally don’t have much interest in learning new things, especially after a certain age. I said generally, so that doesn’t apply to everyone.
But we are way too focused on ourselves in this country, which is too bad. Young people, especially, should learn another language. And Spanish is a great choice. This country has a large population that speaks Spanish as a first language, whether we like that or not. And with our ever-changing demographics, that number will only increase.
When I traveled to Denmark in the Air Force Reserve in 1996, I learned that all Danes are taught Danish, German and English in school. When I asked why, I was told that as Germans are their neighbors, it was helpful. And English is the international language of business.
I was very impressed by this. Sure, Denmark is a small country. But it was thinking about its place in the world as a whole, and in its region. This made perfect sense to me.
But in this country, we sadly tend to turn our noses at even the notion of learning a second language.
That might change out of necessity, of course. In 100 years, it is possible that most people in this country will not speak English as a first language. I did say possible, not probable.
Look how much our own language has changed. Consider how people talked when you were a child as compared to now. Words and phrases you used then are not ever uttered these days. Language is constantly growing and changing.
For us, the language ship has sailed. But if you know any toddlers, start encouraging them now before it is too late.
