Espanol y El Cerebro
How do our brains comprehend the learning of a new language?
Did you know that your age can affect your learning of a language?
It has been scientifically proven that the best time to learn a language is between the ages of 2 years old and puberty. This is because your brain changes after puberty through a process called "lateralization". When we are younger, we use both sides of our brain to function and learn from our world. If a young student is learning a new language, they are able to become more proficient in the said language with less instruction than an older student would need to reach proficiency. The younger student's brain is better at adapting to the language, simply because their brains are using more functions than the more developed brain of an older student. It is very likely that the younger student will even develop an accent with the language, since their brains will view both their first and second languages as their native languages.
Older Brains Have Different Advantages & Disadvantages When It Comes To Learning a New Language
After the process of lateralization, your brain stops using both sides at the same time. It begins to draw from one side of itself at a time. However, there are benefits of learning a new language at an older age. With a more developed brain, you know how to apply helpful strategies to your learning. You can also draw from the knowledge you have acquired with your first language to better understand your second language. Lastly, you have more control over the information that you receive and can use that to aid you in the more challenging areas of your instruction.
Younger brains are able to use both sides while learning a new language.
This allows younger students to progress faster in the language than older students.
After puberty, brains can only draw from one side at a time.
This makes the learning slightly more difficult for older students, however they can apply any of their previous knowledge to their understanding of the new language.
How long does it take to become proficient in the language?
To be able to read, write, speak and listen to the language at an academic level, it takes 4 to 10 years, depending on the developmental status of a person's brain.
La Chaix Barker
Herrera
Spanish 1C
Period 3