Olga CELTA teacher
Professional Teacher
Why is learning a foreign language easier for some people and more difficult for some others?

I heard some people saying "Learning languages is impossible for me. I don`t have such abilities". Is it really possible or is it just an excuse?

Jun 1, 2019 9:43 PM
Comments · 8
6
I don't think it's an excuse. Many people really believe one needs special abilities to learn languages, when really, anyone can acquire languages with the right approach. The problem is that many have had inefficient teachers and gone about it completely the wrong way, such that it seems to them that they've barely learned to communicate after 10 years studying a language.

Of course you think you're hopeless if you spent all that time and still struggle to understand a native speaker in a simple conversation.

So, I think it's neither impossible nor a mere excuse. It's the sad product of myths about language learning that are reinforced by institutions that should have a better foundation for what they do.
June 1, 2019
3
It depends on
1-Abilities of person 
2-Conditions of learning 
3-Importance of language for them 
Urgency makes miracles 
June 1, 2019
3
Learning languages or learning science or learning music, etc.

Some people are talented and others are not: that is a fact of life, isn't it?

The science behind it seems to be that some parts of the brain are activated by language, other parts by science and other parts by music etc.
And once a part of our brain is activated, doing what it can do becomes easy.
But before it is activated, it feels very difficult.

I suppose this is an explanation :)
June 1, 2019
1
In some ways, I`d agree with that - the right teachers and approaches are extremely important, but there is one more element - the personality of a learner and their motivation and readiness to work systematically. No miracle can happen if a person practices only once a month/year  for just one hour.
June 1, 2019
1
Great answer, Guyomar. :-)
June 1, 2019
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