The Science of Language Learning »

The Science of Language Learning

Why is it that some people struggle to learn a language while others manage to assimilate with foreign lingo seamlessly? Certain people take to new diction like ducks to water, while others flap around aimlessly like fish on dry land. There is a science behind the acquisition of a new language, though, and perhaps having a better understanding of it would help people in their quest to master other tongues.

Humans are Made to absorb Language

Developing language ability is a natural occurrence in human beings and a probable result of evolution. The need to be able to communicate with one another was a matter of life and death in the days of early man, and it is still just as crucial as it has ever been. For this reason, we are all built with an innate ability to absorb the language around us and decipher it. Once the brain has begun to decode it, we test it out through trial and error until it has been perfected. Children can quickly develop an understanding of grammar patterns and can differentiate between tenses from a young age. Some research has found that young learners naturally change irregular verbs into past tense versions using the rule of adding “ed” which applies to regular verbs. This shows that patterns of English are learned through listening and then applied across the board until the learner knows what the correct terms should be. According to various studies in the past, we continue to absorb language like a sponge until around the age of seven. But recent evidence reported in MIT News suggests that this initial assumption may be incorrect. Indeed, there have been new studies that have given support to a theory that we continue to learn languages in an optimal manner until the age of 18.

What is the Science Behind it?

There have been studies using MRI into the areas of the brain that are stimulated during language learning. For example, a study from Lund University in Sweden discovered that parts of the brain grew during the acquisition of a new language. Another report from the University of Illinois concluded that immersion in a foreign language is more effective than being taught grammar and vocabulary in a didactic manner. When you become submerged in a language and are not exposed to your own mother tongue, the brain is forced to adapt and instinctively begins to absorb the language as it would do at a young age. This means that anyone who wants to attempt fluency in a language would be wise to move to a country where it is spoken everywhere. Through full immersion like this, the brain can begin to decipher and decode the language, and the areas of the brain that deal with language acquisition can grow and flourish.

Assimilation and Varied Methods Could be Key

Of course, it’s not always possible to simply move to a country and stay there until you’ve learned to speak like the locals. Many people choose to learn a language to prepare themselves before moving to a country, or to take on jobs in their home country where that language could come in handy. For example, an English speaker working at the French embassy in the UK may want to learn German to improve their communication with work colleagues. Part of the process could be by having trial and error conversations with people at work, but it would be a great help to learn online with a teacher as well. This would give the learner a safe environment in which they can test out their abilities with a rated tutor, who is going to help them speak the language confidently. When you can’t fully immerse yourself in a language, it could be wise to incorporate a variety of methods. In addition to hiring a tutor or conversing with foreign friends, you could watch television series and movies in the language you are trying to learn. By turning the subtitles off, you’ll be forced to try harder to understand what people are saying. The brain is a wonderfully advanced system, and sometimes we just need to let it do its thing. Rather than take language learning too seriously, the best approach may be to master a new language with a mixed approach of structured learning and finding opportunities to absorb it naturally.