Why bother to learn another language, especially once we’re older? It is not for everyone, I know, and, as a person who is fascinated by linguistic intricacies, I admit that I am more of a zealot than most. However, let us take a few minutes to reflect: let us not dismiss the idea straight away. It could be that learning another language will change our lives!
Let’s start by considering what we have to lose by trying. What’s the worst that could happen? We might find that other things in our lives are more important and have to take priority so we give up learning for the time being. What have we lost? Nothing. We’ve tried something; we’ve made a start. We can start again at any time. I am a great believer that it is never too late to learn. My grandmother was learning new languages in her 80s.
The time we spend learning a new language will never be wasted. We will never forget everything we have learnt: the brain just doesn’t work that way. When we least expect it, it will start trickling back into our conscious minds. As long as we don’t set up any barriers in the form of not believing in our abilities, it will always be there when we need it. There are many ways that we can learn another language but probably one of the most flexible and successful is online. No matter how long we persevere, whether we just dip our toes in the water or whether we commit time and energy to fully master the language, it will be time well spent.
Academic learning is often thought of as a solitary activity, especially if you don’t attend classes and, instead, work on your own in your own time, yet learning a second language is one of the most beneficial ways to expand your social life. Suddenly there are whole countries full of people that you can communicate with. Not only that but by expanding your interests and your horizons you immediately become a more interesting person to other people.
How easy it is to let our brains snooze through life once we have left full time education. How comfortable the thought that there are no more great challenges. The flip side is that a lack of mental stimulation leads to boredom and a lack of energy. It is well documented that those who continue to exercise their brain tend to live longer and be happier in much the same way as those who regularly exercise their bodies lead longer, happier lives. The more we use our brains, the more they are capable of doing.
Not much is certain in life but of one thing we can be sure: if we change nothing then nothing changes. If we don’t find new ways to challenge our brains we are not going to learn anything further and our brains will stop developing, What could be better than taking things at our own pace, fitting our learning, or exercise, in with our existing lives? What could be more rewarding than being able to use that learning almost immediately to expand our minds and our horizons? And what better example is there to give our children? Certainly, we can never live in their world, as much of it is yet to come long after we have gone, but they can learn from our experiences and start to understand that learning is a lifelong process which enriches and brings many rewards. What better gift to give than a love of learning?
Mastering a new language is like being given a key which gradually unlocks the secrets of another world! Can you resist?
By Megan Oliver