3566. We Adults May Be Superior to Children at Learning...

Two posts ago I told you that we adults have a lot of positive features in our favor to learn a second or foreign language, and we do have indeed! 

Also lately I’m commenting on H. D. Brown (1989). You can peek at the last posts from this blog. From that great book now I’m quoting something else about the way we grownups learn that language. Here you are, “It’s not ridiculous, is it, that adults are potentially superior to children in foreign language learning? If we could only harness that ability! Research on successful language learners shows that a significant portion of adult success is attributable to optimal conscious learning. You need to be just childlike enough to relax with the language and not be overly worried about all of its details. But at the right moment, you need to be able to monitor yourself or your language with your zoom lens, then take corrective action.

In short, try not to think too much about your language learning process, but allow yourself optimal occasions to zoom in and figure out what’s going on. If you can balance the two principles of focusing closely and of getting the larger picture, you will be well on your way to success.” (page 22). 

Have a nice week.