I started learning Mandarin 4.5 years ago (well after my 40th birthday). Of course, it helped that I lived in China for four years. I am nowhere near fluent, and still have a hard time with pronunciation. But I am able to communicate effectively, and improved my tones and accent during the last year (when I got over my "fear" of sounding bad). During that year, I also met an "older" British woman who was fluent in Mandarin (she didn't speak a work until her 42nd birthday).

All this to say that learning or improving English at an older age is possible. I think the biggest obstacle is overcoming the fear of sounding "ridiculous." It took a long time, but it doesn't bother me that I will not sound natural speaking Mandarin. Once I accepted that, my fluency and ability to speak and to be understood improved a lot.

Some people will laugh at you in the beginning. So what! A good Chinese friend (she did not speak a word of English) used to laugh with me - and at me - as we spent several evenings walking through the streets of Shangrila, China (Yunnan province) with her helping me read and pronounce storefront signs. Her "laughter" was a tremendous help to me.

I am fluent in English, French and Greek and sound natural speaking these three languages. I am lucky. I learned them at a younger age - before graduating from high school. But that does not equal the satisfaction I have had improving my Chinese skills later in life.

No, it did not happen because I have a "gift" for languages. I improved because I wanted to and worked at it. And because I got over the fear of sounding silly or ridiculous.

YES, learning or improving ENGLISH is possible at an older age.

Why should the young people have all the fun?