| The Horse, as I wrote previously, is spoken | | | | disease process in the adult. |
| fluency. I made the point that long before they go | | | | The difference that has been noted between |
| off to first grade, children already have a high | | | | children and adults trying to acquire a second |
| degree of spoken fluency in their native tongue | | | | language is that those who learn the language |
| before they learn the parts of speech or | | | | before puberty generally will have no "accent." |
| memorize grammar rules. It is my contention, and | | | | They do not sound like an English speaker when |
| the premise of this book, this is exactly what you | | | | they speak Spanish. |
| need long before you enroll in a formal foreign | | | | The reasons for the noted accent factor |
| language course. Long before you begin to learn | | | | between adult and child learners may be due to |
| the difference between the preterite and | | | | developing brain issues and to the individual |
| imperfect tenses in Spanish, you need to be using | | | | learning experiences of the child versus the adult. |
| them with the same degree of fluency that a | | | | The research specifically shows, as an adult gets |
| Mexican first-grader does when he goes off to his | | | | older, there is NO diminution in the ability to learn. |
| first day of school. | | | | Unless there is a disease process with the hearing |
| Ok, calm that heart rate down. Don't get all | | | | or vision, or unless there is a mental impairment, |
| twisted in a knot over this. What I am suggesting | | | | there is no reason why an adult cannot learn a |
| is highly possible. If you have the time and the | | | | second language and become fluent. It is a myth |
| money-and yes, it is going to cost you-you can | | | | that adults cannot learn a second language. That is |
| engage in the same process to learn Spanish that | | | | not to say there are no adult-related difficulties in |
| you did when you learned your native language. | | | | learning a second language. There are indeed |
| Look at the cost factor to which I just alluded. | | | | some adult-related difficulties but they are not |
| What would you rather do? Would you rather | | | | what you think. |
| spend a small fortune that could pay off the | | | | The biggest difficulty in an adult, and I am talking |
| national debt of some small "third world" country | | | | even those as young as college-age adults, |
| in books and tuition for classes which are not | | | | learning a second language is an emotional issue. |
| designed to teach you spoken fluency, or would | | | | Adults have bought into the popular myth that |
| you rather spend the money on something that | | | | because they didn't learn Spanish as children, it is |
| will work? Having said that, let's take a look at the | | | | too late for them to begin now. |
| Horse. Let's also look at how children learn their | | | | I recall reading a study about language instruction |
| native tongue as well as how they seem to learn | | | | at Harvard where students routinely put off their |
| a second language faster than adults. | | | | foreign language requirement until their senior |
| That children seem to learn a foreign language | | | | year. Some got so freaked out that Harvard had |
| faster than adults is not necessarily true. | | | | to develop a therapy resource to help students |
| I have gotten into many a verbal | | | | get through their required language courses. Some |
| "knock-down-drag-outs" over this very issue. Most | | | | universities developed a Bachelor's of General |
| Americans are convinced that children can learn a | | | | Studies degree program just so students could |
| foreign language faster than adults can. Have you | | | | avoid taking a foreign language. That is how |
| not heard the very same thing? This is the | | | | frightened and paranoid Americans are of learning |
| standard excuse of those I meet who express | | | | another language. |
| the dream of expatriating to Mexico but who are | | | | It is an emotional issue that prevents adults from |
| firmly and inextricably convinced because they | | | | trying and succeeding to learn Spanish. |
| are in their 60's, they are UNABLE to learn a | | | | Researchers Krashen, Long, and Scarcella showed |
| second language. | | | | that, |
| The wonderful truth is that what you've always | | | | "Studies comparing the rate of second language |
| heard about children being able to pick up a | | | | acquisition in children and adults have shown that |
| language faster than adults is SIMPLY IS NOT | | | | although children may have an advantage in |
| TRUE. It is not too late because you are an "older | | | | achieving native-like fluency in the long run, adults |
| learner." | | | | actually learn languages more quickly than children |
| Most new studies show when an adult learner is | | | | in the early stages. (Krashen, Long, and Scarcella, |
| involved in the right method of language | | | | 1979: The Older Language Learner by Mary |
| instruction, he learns the foreign language faster | | | | Schleppegrell, Ph.D)." |
| than a child. If an adult is immersed in the correct | | | | The conclusion this study draws is adults can |
| method that teaches the second language in the | | | | develop a working ability in the target language |
| same manner in which he learned his native | | | | much faster than a child can. |
| tongue, he will learn the language faster. This | | | | NEXT: Some Really Bad Science! |
| assumes the absence of some sort of organic | | | | |