Whether you want to climb a mountain or learn a new language, age should never hold you back from doing something you want to do. Although many people might live by the age-old assumption that you “can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” the truth is age isn’t an obstacle unless you allow it to be when it comes to acquiring a new skill. If you’re over the age of 60, or even over the age of 70, you can master a new language with the right tips. Here’s some pointers to guide you on learning a new language over 60.
Choose The Right Language For You
How much you retain the language will largely depend on how relevant it is to you and your lifestyle. If you set out to learn Mandarin Chinese without any rhyme or reason behind it, then you’re probably not going to put as much work into it as you would learning your mother’s maternal language for example.
When you choose a language that aligns with your interests, or family connections, you’re much more likely to stay diligent with it. So, choose a language that you connect with on a personal level, and it will add an extra layer of motivation and enjoyment throughout the learning process.
Use Technology
While once upon a time if you wanted to learn a language you had to buy a language book, or get a tutor, nowadays, learning a language is easier than ever thanks to technology. Not only are there plenty of apps available that can help you master a foreign language, but many of them are free. Platforms like Duolingo allow learners to practice every day at their own pace, and have a very high success rate.
Get to know the different options available to you, and remember, there’s always a learning curve when it comes to technology, but with a little patience in practice, you’ll master it in no time.
Practice
One of the biggest mistakes people make when learning a language is that they feel like they have to master it before they start speaking it. However, practice is critical when it comes to learning. You need to make mistakes if you hope to learn!
In fact, the more mistakes you make, the more of the language you’ll retain since you learned the hard way. It’s only by falling and getting up again multiple times that you start to learn the complexities of a language, and retain phrases and idioms that you wouldn’t have necessarily learned in a language book. So find someone that speaks the language that you’re setting out to learn, and practice with them as much as possible. This can either be in person, or on the phone—it all depends on the resources you have.
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