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In my private practice as an ESL + FLE teacher, I am routinely confronted with stereotypes and myths about foreign language acquisition. One of the most widespread and persistent goes something like this:
(A) Children learn languages fast and well
(B) I am no longer a child
Therefore, (C) I cannot learn a language fast and well.
You don’t have to be an expert in syllogisms to notice that, although propositions A and B make perfect sense, conclusion C does not directly follow. One can imagine a world where both children AND adults could learn languages equally “fast and well.”
Now, this doesn’t seem to be true. But why?
Most people assume FLA is some unique, near-magical skill children possess and adults lack, but this romantic, pseudo-scientific narrative has had its day.
Here’s what truly sets children apart from adults:
1- Time of exposure ⏳
I have coached 100+ people on their journey to foreign language acquisition, and I can tell you this is the number one predictor of learning pace and quality. You cannot learn a language you are not exposed to. Don’t make the mistake of comparing your 1h/week with a baby’s 24/7.
2- Motivation🔥
I know you find French “romantic,” and I bet you deserve that raise at work, but does your survival depend on it? For most adults, this is highly unlikely. Children, on the other hand, are utterly reliant on their caretakers; if they can’t communicate their needs, chances are those needs won’t be met. This degree of motivation to learn is hard to match with Google Translate always in your pocket.
3- Fear😨
Experts say infants are born with only two fears: fear of falling and fear of loud noises. Whether this is true or not, “getting a subjunctive wrong” clearly doesn’t make the list. While adults are stuck worrying about what people think, children “just say it” 💬 and receive invaluable feedback they can then integrate into the next iteration.
I can guarantee these three things are holding you back more than any supposed lack of neuroplasticity 🧠