Why Are Adults Bad At New Languages?

Learning a new language as an adult is harder than doing so as a child because adults usually aren’t as invested and often use the wrong strategies.

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To learn more, start your googling with these keywords:
Second-Language Acquisition: The process of a language that’s not the speaker’s native language.
Bilingualism: The ability to speak and understand two languages.
Monitor Model: A group of hypotheses that propose that linguistic competence is only advanced when language is subconsciously acquired.
Sociolinguistics: The study of language in relation to all sorts of social factors.
Linguistic Investment: A motivation to learn a language based on the understanding that the speaker will acquire a wider range of symbolic and material resources, which will in turn increase the value of their cultural capital and social power.
Hyperpolyglot: A person who can speak and understand more than six languages.
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Credits (and Twitter handles):
With Contributions From: Henry Reich, Alex Reich, Kate Yoshida, Ever Salazar, Peter Reich, Julián Gómez, Sarah Berman

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References:

Bigelow, M. (2019). Personal Communication. Department of Curriculum and Instruction. University of Minnesota.

Paesani, K. (2019). Personal Communication. The Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition. University of Minnesota.

[Killerkraft]

I like how you specifically used arcanine cause they can’t learn any level up moves

[falls]

I learned english by myself from watching movies and playing games when I was young because I saw my older brother watching Pokémon with english subtitles... and because of that I was always the best at English class. (I'm from Portugal)

[nickc]

The only thing stopping adults from becoming hyperpolyglots is learning the word in the first place! 🥇

[duongle]

1:55 They use an Iron Pickaxe and then a Diamond one

[MichelePandini]

This video is so inspiring! I am trying to improve my English and I learned from an earlier age. However, since I always told I was bad at the language and did not improve, I can see the barriers that the channel is talking right in front of me. I hope someday I will break those barriers and be confident that my English, or any other language I will learn, will be good enough to talk, write and listen!

[cybrace]

1:41 that's a very nice way to represent fluency. I love the design language.

[I-Rex]

"adults are good at following directions which can often help us beat kids" 1:19 XD sometimes quote mining can be fun lol great video tho

[DakotaAbroad]

It mostly breaks down to this: adults aren't worse at learning languages. We're just not forced to like children often are and can opt out of practicing as much.

[AnthonyMillerJr]

This video just debunked a nonsensical fear I’ve held quietly and gave me so much hope! F$#% Yeah!

[rocksinshoe]

so yeah everyone, nothing can stop you






but always consider the life of your loved ones and family

[XiXora]

I always found that my non-native friends were great at their 2nd (or more) language after a visit to the pub and their inhibitions to simply speak broken down. Fun times!

[MasterGeekMX]

-"Learning the place's culture"


-image of Sálvame.

[irishpolyglot]

Great video guys!!! Love how you emphasized in less than 3 minutes what I’ve tried to spend years telling people :D

[xSuperSS]

I've started learning English when I was 12 and what you say about kids in this video is definitely true. I had to learn English as I entered high school in UK, and now I look back on how much this helped me to learn this language.

[ismaelgc]

0:55 - Yes, keeping up with pop culture in Spain means using the sevillana emoji, watching Paquita Salas and Belén Esteban. Qué cracks que sois xD

[Alex-mwqz]

why does the adult look like the "the snow is snowyer than before" guy?

[harmonicaveronica]

There actually is something different about kid brains though! The biggest difference is the ability to acquire a native accent, something very few adults can learn to do even if they speak the language fluently. But also, you can basically just talk enough around a small child and they'll pick up a language, whereas that strategy is a lot tougher for adults. Adults will benefit more form explicitly learning grammar and vocabulary

[rikwisselink-bijker]

I object to Harry Potter being called old. But maybe that is a sign of me getting old. (deathly hallows symbol at 1:03)

[dontmindmefriend]

1:49 awww his reason is that hes in loovee, look at that baby gay go! aw

[zero]

both parents speak Spanish but didnt teach me it. wish they did though. very hard to learn now