Advice on Language Learning, Travel, and Living Abroad
Even at old age, you can still learn a new language.
But you gotta let go of certain prejudices that exist about older language learners.
These prejudices hold you back from even giving it a go.
When readers ask me for specific tips for older learners, I always share my two rules for older language learners with them.
The rules aren’t tactical. They’ve got more to do with the mindset of older learners.
Here they are.
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If you want to get fluent in a new language:
You’ll have to go get Fluency, it won’t come to you by itself.
Too many people are sleepwalking their way through language learning.
They have too much of a Come-To-Me mentality, instead of the superior Go-Get-It mentality.
With the Come-To-Me mentality, you can do a lot of language learning without making strides.
You’re busy, but not really advancing.
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“Dead” time…
An often used phrase that describes the time you have but don’t use:
Commuting to work, waiting in line, looking at stupid images on Facebook with even more stupid texts — that are always only partially true — or just watching recipe YouTube videos you never end up cooking anyway.
It’s all time you could use for language learning activities.
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You probably recognize the following scenario:
You’re in an important conversation in your target language. Then suddenly, your vocabulary seems to shrink to: Yes, No and Thank You.
Call it stress or nerves, fact is it makes you feel as if all the studying you’ve done has been worthless.
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It’s not your fault that you think a language should be learned quickly.
They’re all in your face about it.
In order to sell courses, the claims they make can’t get much crazier sometimes.
With so much hype, you may actually start to believe you can learn fluent Mandarin in 3 weeks…and without any effort on your part.