Say What? Brain benefits of learning another language at ANY age
Learning a second language has tremendous brain benefits (graphic by Neeli Clute)
“He who knows no foreign languages knows nothing of his own.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Ever thought learning a new language is only for children?
Think again!
Your brain's capacity for language acquisition might surprise you.
Adults can master new languages just as well as children, though through different cognitive strategies. Learning a second, or fourth language as an adult has tremendous cognitive benefits. Scientific research reveals that learning a second language can bolster memory retention, enhance vocabulary, and even delay the onset of dementia. Additionally, it fosters social interaction, making it an enriching endeavor at any age
We forget what it was like to learn our first language given our lack of memory of that time period. Our language immersion began in the womb and developed during our youngest years. As infants, we learn all sorts of communication strategies. As a mother, I innately spoke to my infants incessantly, repeating words, connecting objects to those words, and reading books.
Newborns absorb the melody of the speech around them. (Photo - Neeli Clute)
A recent interaction with the newest member of our extended family also reminded me of the incredible ways infants absorb and communicate. Concentrating and blinking hard to see a blurry face in front of her at one month old, I imagined how her mind was making connections at a lightning fast speed. Studies show infants start learning the melody of language at about three months before birth when their ears are already developed. They hear their mother’s voice and others nearby and develop the melody of their mother tongue. An intriguing study found that French and German newborns have a cry melody that resembles each language’s stress patterns. You may have noticed that each language has a melody that helps identify it for non-language speakers. Identifying that melody is the first step to learning a language.
Over the next month, she quickly became more animated, smiling and cooing and kicking her feet. She found her voice beyond crying for nourishment. She thrived on hearing voices, connecting with human touch, and relished movement. There is no doubt she is in a particularly agile window of brain development and is highly motivated to connect with her caretakers. Communication is one of the very first skills she needs to thrive in the world, and her absorption and expanded array of expressions was noticeable every day.
Infants also learn facial expressions rapidly when interacting with their caretakers. (photo by Neeli Clute)
A tremendous amount of language is absorbed during the first year of life, which shows the incredible beauty of the large and moldable canvas of adaptable brain tissue we all start with. We learn to speak the language we are exposed to from before birth. This is the advantage of the long game of human development. We don’t drop to the ground and walk within an hour like many animals. Our brains are designed for maximum adaptability to customize specifically to our unique surroundings. We rely heavily on our human caretakers for years before being independent, but the payoff is substantial.
Language is one of those skills that makes humans so wonderfully adaptable to the world. Development of language does not stop with childhood, rather shifts in how it is absorbed. As adults we find more structured ways to learn, and often use customized strategies. Just as with infants, immersion is the fastest way to learn communication.
Our language skills also expand over time and with use. We do not hit a wall of maximum ability unless we stop using it. Even if we pause in our learning, our efforts are not lost.
Imagine if you fully immersed yourself in nothing but a new language for a full year.
What would your new language skills look like?
You may still have the melody of your mother tongue, but your skills would skyrocket.
Reflecting on my recent trip from the scenic island of Hawaii back to the Rocky Mountains, I thought about my own linguistic journey. Over the past years, diving into new languages like Italian, Spanish, and Hawaiian has become one of my favorite ways to keep my brain agile. I have been using a language app and have 5 languages in my profile. I wasn’t able to accomplish my childhood wish of knowing every language in the world, but I buck the misconception that it is “too hard” to expand my language skills as an adult.
This may be more difficult for Americans given that English is the strongly dominant language. If you pay attention to the diversity of cultures, however, you will find ample opportunities to practice many other languages.
I have learned to listen to the melody of an accent and say “Thank you” in over 20 languages to people within the US border. If I don’t recognize the accent, I respectfully ask where they are from and how to say “thank you” (if I don’t already know it). I love the brilliant smiles I receive from those who miss hearing their childhood language. I came to understand my curiosity is perceived as a sign of respect and interest in their culture. Yes, pronunciation can be challenging, but who better to learn from than from a native speaker?
Spending just 5-10 minutes daily practicing a new language can yield impressive results
Here’s what I’ve discovered through my own experience…
Language sticks
I took Spanish and a little French in high school, and with renewed practice, I was surprised how much came back into my memory. I continued learning while working with Latino patients in the hospital, but the terms were largely medical and it was not immersive. A trip to Paris was far more immersive and my French improved more rapidly. I am always surprised at how much I have retained when I return back to a language after shifting to another. Research aside, this is personal proof to me that the work I invest in expanding and developing my mind has built memories that are not lost, but a part of my cognitive brain bank. Learning novel information develops mental agility in many respects.
“Learning another language is not only learning different words for the same things, but learning another way to think about things.” Flora Lewis
Native Speakers Often Delight in Helping Learners
Engaging with native speakers not only improves your skills but also fosters deeper connections. Being immersed in Mexico in April for two weeks, I switched my daily practice to Spanish. I concentrated on my pronunciation, which got me into trouble more than once. I would speak a few sentences trying to practice as much as possible, and native speakers would light up and take our conversation to warp speed, speaking far too fast for my ability level.
I stuck it out, with one of my favorite responses being:
“Mi español no es muy bueno, pero me gustaría practicar para mejorar.” (My Spanish is not very good, but I would like to practice to get better)
Every single time they would smile and slow down. I learned much faster than on my language app from those interactions. I could be wrong, but I think I got some extra perks for my effort too.
Short practice sessions expand your vocabulary immensely
I am astounded at how much my vocabulary has expanded with just 5-10 minutes of practice. It doesn’t take much time, is a great mental break, and once it becomes a habit it is easy to maintain. Everyone can find 5 minutes to expand your mind, regardless of how busy you are. Choosing at least one mental break that challenges the mind with a lasting benefit is a wise strategy in the long run. Most researchers on dementia recommend activities that build your brain to diminish the impacts of future dementia. Low demand cognitive breaks are important for diminishing stress too, but choosing healthy mindful moments that expand your memory influences your mental ROI in the future.
Mental Challenge is good for the Mind
Hawaiian is a difficult language for me because the structure is very different from my native language. It has only 14 letters and is heavy in vowels. The easiest way for me to think about its structure is to pretend I am talking to Yoda. Generally, stating things in reverse order from what I usually do works well. It requires me to really concentrate, which not only improves my ability to focus, but boosts memory retention.
Hawaiian isn’t the only language you will come across in Hawaii. It is considered the melting pot of the Pacific for a reason. In addition to all the languages from the Pacific Islands, there is also a wealth of Asian languages. Over time a local language developed called pidgin. Pidgin is spoken by many locals which is primarily English but is full of Hawaiian and slang with a cadence that can be very tough to decipher. Similar to Creole, it is a blend of languages and colloquial influences. Pidgin and creole languages develop as a simplified way to communicate between people with different languages.
There are many accents or blends that develop in most languages, and can often be an indicator of where someone is from. I find it really fun to guess where someone is from by how they speak as I get to know them. It is one of the fascinating nuances of interacting with people and understanding who they are. We have so many cultures right within our own neighborhoods that influence who we are as a community.
Want to try this brain boosting activity, but you aren’t sure how to teach yourself a language as an adult? Here are eight tips to get started.
Eight language-learning tips for adults
Have solid yet attainable goals of what you would like to learn
Make learning a part of your daily life.
Make the most of technology. Use a language app or Google translate
Learn cognates. Cognates are languages that have the same linguistic derivation as one you have already learned. The family of romance languages, for example, include French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and Romanian.
Come up with mnemonics to help you remember new vocabulary
Regularly practice speaking
Remember that age doesn't matter
Visit the country where the language is spoken.
“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.” Alvin Toffler