With globalization, access to various languages has become easier. In just a few seconds, you can go from watching a video in Spanish to one in Mandarin. In this context, instant translation technologies continue to advance each year. So, why bother learning new languages?
The first point to consider is that it’s never too late to learn a new language. You might have heard that our ability to become fluent in a language ends at 17 years old. While there’s some truth to this, the study that proves it only examined the full mastery of another language’s grammar. How many of us fully understand the grammar of our native language, Portuguese? It’s okay to make some grammatical errors, but that shouldn’t prevent you from developing a high-level vocabulary in another language.
Watch more on this topic in the video below, from a TED-style conference talk. In it, John McWhorter, an American linguist, presents four very interesting benefits of learning a new foreign language.
The greater the need to understand a language or express oneself in it, the faster the learning will be.
So, while you’re studying the language, play games, watch movies, or use your phone in the language you’re learning. The need to progress in the game, understand the movie’s storyline, and use your smartphone will be a motivating factor for your learning.
You don’t need to live in another country to have contact with the language. Just immerse yourself in a context with the language and create the need for learning.
