The assumptions of age making a difference when learning a language.

The assumptions of age making a difference when learning a language.

1. Foreign language learning in a school should start early

   • People argue that there is a critical period to learn a language, and that if you pass that period it may be more difficult to learn a language.
     • This is not supported by an investigation. There could not be a critical period at all, or there could be several.

2. Young children learn languages better.

   • This statement may be based on the experience of teachers when teaching kids.
     • But it hasn't been proven by researchers yet. In fact, if the learner (regardless of their age) is exposed to the same amount of the target language, they will learn effectively.

3. Children and adults learn languages in the same way

   • If the learners are in an immersion situation, where they are acquiring the language for the need of everyday communication, this may be true.
     • But, in the formal classroom classes, the age differences are very noticeable. Adults have the capacity of understanding and acquiring logical skills faster, which the kids do not posses.

4. Adults have a longer concentration span

   • Teachers notice that is harder for the children to focus, whereas the adults do it no problems.
     • The kids can actually focus for a long time, but there's a catch. They will focus on things they feel truly interested in. Whereas the adults can focus on more things because they are more self-disciplined.

5. DANIELA ELENA ACOSTA GARCÍA

6. It is easier to motivate children

   • It is easier to make the children be interested in the class by making interesting and fun activities. But you can also lose their attention rather easily.
     • When the adult learners can be more tolerant to those activities they don't find interesting. Therefore is safe to say that the young students' attention is easier to get, but also to lose. And the older students are more stable.