It’s a common misconception that you can’t learn a new language past a certain age. People think that their brains are too ‘slow’ and aren’t young enough to process so much new information. This article discusses the benefits of learning a new language in later life.

It’s a common misconception that when we leave our childhood behind, we leave our ability to learn new skills behind too. This is especially true, or so we think, when it comes to learning a new language.

If you have ever wanted to order in Italian or converse in German, you can, no matter how young or old you feel.

And here’s why learning a language at any age is not only possible but great fun too;

1.   Change your expectations

Some people see speaking another language as taking on the persona of that country, so talking Italian means being Italian. But this isn’t always the case.

And fluency means different things too. To say you ‘speak Italian’ doesn’t necessarily mean you eat, think and drink it.

Speaking a language means being able to communicate with other people. Ordering your meal in Italian and having a light-hearted conversation with someone whilst waiting for your train or bus in their mother tongue is just fine too.

2.   Tap into your motivation

Now that you have adjusted your vision of what success means for you, we come to the sometimes-thorny issue of motivation.

We assume that children learn without trying and that for us, as adults, we need to burn the midnight oil for anything to go into our saturated brains.

The solution is a little simpler but more complex than you may think because it comes down to motivation, something that ebbs and flows with life.

Motivation is the key to success. And so, there will be times when studying online courses you just can’t get the grammatical rule of a new language or you can’t quite pronounce a word or two correctly, but your determination will get you there.

You have decided to invest in a language course, you are committed to learning a new language, all valuable in keeping you motivated.

3.   You can try it out

The best way of learning and cementing the learning of a new language is to practice the skill. For children, this means using a phrase or two on their next family holiday, if they have one.

As an adult, you are financially more stable (hopefully!) and thus, have the ability to travel. As well as sightseeing holidays, there are also a variety of breaks that are centred around learning and using a new language.

4.   Previous experience

Another benefit of learning a new language as an adult is all that life experience we carry around with us.

You have achieved language fluency in your own language, or maybe more than one if your parents spoke more than one language to you.

All this means you have picked up on small pieces of information about language and communication, how things are said, their annunciation and how the emphasis on the wrong word at the wrong time can be the biggest insult.

You will have already spotted grammatical patterns and similarities between words. You can work out that some words we use in English have their roots in Latin, French and other languages.

Because you ‘see’ all this, you ‘see’ it too when studying online language courses.

5.   You have study skills

You may not think it, but because you have studied previously, you have a smattering of study skills that come in handy when learning something new.

A key skill, for example, is being organised and being able to prioritise what needs to be done first. You will also understand how practising and trying things out is important too, but you have the reflective skills to be able to understand why something worked and why something didn’t.

All of these skills that you thought were lost and forgotten will come back, all combining to give you the success you want.

6.   Perspective

You understand that life is full of ups and downs. You understand that sometimes, things don’t go according to plan. and that means assignments might not the roaring success that you thought they would be BUT, you are still learning.

Speaking another language is all about confidence. The confidence to do something a little scary – we would all be more comfortable if we ordered our breakfast on the shores of Lake Garda in our own language but push your comfort zone and order with your new-found confidence in spouting Italian…

We all live in completely different environments, but can it affect the way we learn? If you choose to learn from home, how can you optimise your new learning environments to help you learn more effectively?

Reminiscing about our school or college days brings back many memories. We have fond memories of great teachers, exciting subjects and great learning environments in which we learned all kinds of things, many of which stay with us today.

But then we have the not-so-good memories, the boring lessons that failed to ignite imagination or our desire to learn.

The truth is, behind both sets of experiences are several factors that combined to either satisfy our desire to learn or don’t.

As you stand on the precipice of a new educational adventure, how can you confidently stop this dullness creeping into your studies?

Creating successful learning environments at home

Self-managing your own learning negates the need to spend hours in a classroom being led through a course by a teacher or instructor. This removes the ‘personality clashes or connections’ that are so prominent in more formal educational settings.

And we all know that in life, we get on with some people but not others. It makes sense that we won’t get on with every teacher or tutor we come across. With distance learning, your tutor is there to offer you support as you self-manage your own learning.

As you are learning at your own pace in a way that you like, you retain control. But each of our learning environments – the home for many learning distance students – needs to meet all kinds of needs.

In this blog, we’ll look at these factors in our learning environments.

#1 Physical Factors 

Our learning environments are incredibly important. In fact, studies show that the environment in which we learn can affect a student’s progress by as much as 25%. In other words, get the surroundings right, and you can reach for the stars and beyond.

However, there is no magic formula for creating the idyllic learning environment because it shifts depending on individual learner’s perception of everything from colour to whether the space is tidy and so on.

However, studies have found that there are physical aspects that affect how well-received learning environments are;

• Colour should stimulate but not over-excite or depress the senses
• Organisation is key too with resources and equipment being stored in a way that makes them accessible
• Cleanliness is something else that gets a mention with studies of formal classrooms showing that a clean space also affects how well students learn
• Supplies and resources are also important, so making sure you have everything you need to complete your studies, whether that is coloured pencils or textbooks.

Seeing as you are studying in your own home, you can create the perfect learning environment that suits you.

And this may be one reason why learning in a formal classroom may not suit you. Studies have found that students need around 4 feet of personal space in a classroom, one argument for small class sizes.

There is also evidence to suggest that when a student gets involved with creating their learning environment, this sense of ownership also contributes to a more positive learning environment.

Thinking about studying from home? AAT qualifications are a popular route for online learners looking to build practical finance skills.

The findings prove what many home students already know – creating and organising their own physical learning environment is one key to success.

#2 Structural Factors 

The first point touched on this fleetingly, but it is an important point in creating a positive learning environment.

Structure refers to organisation and again, there are research projects and findings that confirm what we already know – a disorganised, chaotic learning environment, whether that is a desk in a study or one in a classroom, is not the best for successful or enhancing learning.

But what else do these research findings tell us?

• The right furniture – ergonomics is the study of efficiency in furniture and other physical items, something that is important in creating a structured learning environment. Studies suggested that when students have the right furniture and equipment, and that it is good condition, they find the environment more conducive to learning.
• Comfort – being uncomfortable is distracting. Not having enough seats or not having a good position in the classroom is not the environment that lends itself to focussing on what you should be.
• Freedom of movement – it has also been suggested that when movement is necessary for a workspace or classroom, that being able to do so without being hindered is key. Again, this is an argument used in class sizes being too big in schools.
• Visibility – for many students, being able to see adequately is part of being involved in learning. The same is true for other senses too.

What this means for the home learner is that you need to spend time creating the right structure for your learning environment. Invest in good quality resources and the have the supplies to hand that you need. This could be something like a notebook, pens and pencils or it may mean more specialised equipment and resources.

Being comfortable is key too, and although you may think being snuggled in bed is the right space for you to learn, is it supporting you physically so that you can truly focus on what you need to do?

Don’t underestimate the importance of creating your own learning environment, something that we covered in a previous article, ‘How to learn at home’. Choose to work where you feel comfortable but supported. Be prepared to invest in your learning environment, just as you are committed to investing time and energy into your course.

#3 Psychological Factors

The third factor in creating ideal learning environments relates to the psychological aspects of study success. Although a lot of the findings relate to the classroom, as do those mentioned in the previous two points, there are still valuable lessons for those students undertaking home learning courses.

Effectively, the psychology of learning is concerned with behaviour, positivity, motivation and a clear structure. But how can we apply this to online and distance learning?

BEHAVIOUR

Negativity can come from various sources, from family, friends and partners not necessarily offering you the support and encouragement you need. Negativity brings about anxiety and poor performance too, therefore, maintaining a positive mood and behaviour around your studying at home is important.

In terms of physical environment, this may be creating a designated space for you to work.

POSITIVITY

Here at NCC Home Learning, we have written extensively on the positive aspects of learning, including a recent article on following your career goals in 2018. In this, we address issues such as creating bite-size chunks so that you have a clearly defined pathway to reach your goals.

Receiving your course materials and log in details for your online cause is exciting. But daunting and for some students, frightening. There seems a lot to be done and when concepts don’t fall into place easily, it can feel like you are climbing a mountain with no scaffolding for support.

It is important to remain positive and this means harnessing motivation.

MOTIVATION

Learning is about improving your skill set and knowledge.

But it is so much more – it is valuable, something that excites and enthrals you, a process that scares you because you are making positive changes in your life. It can mean a promotion or a whole new career.

It can be a ‘hobby’ too, something that you enjoy doing.

Understanding what motivates you in your learning is one factor in your success as a student. This is very important for students who are self-managing their own learning because, without a driver, it is easy for your course to fall by the wayside.

CLEAR STRUCTURE

We have already referred to the organisation of the physical space of your learning environment where you have everything to hand but this is about the structure of your course, and you, as a learner.

Research has shown that when learning is organised, whether this is modules or interlinked units when students understand what the expectations of them are, they respond positively to the learning laid out before them.

If you know, as an online learner, that you have an assignment per unit to complete, and that there are 10 modules to complete, you understand the expectations for successfully completing the course.

Learning Environments: In Summary

Learning from home is fun and exciting, a fantastic opportunity for you to expand your qualifications, learn new skills and take another step in your career.

But, the learning environment needs to be right. This refers to the physical space in which you choose to learn. It needs to be well-lit, comfortable and warm.

It also refers to the structure of this physical environment. You need to be able to access resources, whether that is a pen or a PC, a notebook or coloured pencils. It needs to be an organised physical learning space too.

And finally, the learning environment needs to support you psychologically too. By studying in a pleasant, comfortable space you remain positive and motivated in your learning.

Think about the learning environments you’ve found yourself learning in? Have they helped the process? Hindered it? Leave some suggestions on how to create healthy learning environments in the comments!

Sources

https://www.successconsciousness.com/blog/studying/environmental-factors-that-affect-learning

Learning a new language is a great way to exercise the grey cells. If you are a frequent visitor to Germany and/or Austria, you will understand just how handy it can be to trot out the odd phrase or two in cafes, bars, restaurants, hotels, tourist attractions and more.

But are online language courses the right option?

#1 Commit to It

There are many reasons why you would want to learn a new language, but underpinning them all should be a commitment to the language itself, to using as much as you can and so on. Languages are an inherent part of culture and by learning a new language, you are promoting and safeguarding that culture.

#2 Find a Working Partner

Learning a new language is about reading, writing, listening and speaking – in other words, using the language as often as possible.

One of the problems many students face, whether they are sat in a classroom or at home, is a sudden and paralysing attack of self-consciousness.

Pronouncing strange words, having to think clearly and quickly to produce coherent sentences in a different language need one thing – a willing partner to listen. Why not learn the language together?

#3 OR, Talk to Yourself

It may sound a little odd, but many students of online language courses all say that talking to themselves, practicing phrases, making lists in their new language and so on, all help to cement the new ideas they are learning. Try it!

#4 Don’t Get Lost in a Textbook or Course Materials

Make conversation your goal and that means not hiding in the textbook or course materials. You may have a sound theoretical knowledge of how German sentences are constructed, but when it comes to ordering a “burger ohne zwiebeln”, you will be tongue-tied.

#5 Have Fun with It

Think of fun ways you can practice your new German language skills. Draw a comic strip, write a poem, write a Facebook post in German, tweet in German asking for German language email pen pals or talk in German whenever and wherever you can.

#6 Age is NOT Stopping You Learning

As children, we learn by sitting at our desk in school, we have an expectation that we won’t get things perfekt every time.

We also assume that as we get older, our brains have less aptitude to take on new things and new learning. But there is no scientific evidence to prove this. As an adult, you are just as capable as learning a new skill as you were when you were a child.

#7 Push Out of Your Comfort Zone

We mentioned the feeling of being self-conscious in an earlier point but frankly, for anyone studying online language courses, being embarrassed by mispronunciation or the use of the wrong German word stops them from really enjoying learning a new language.

There is a psychological process that says for anyone scared of something, the way to overcome the fear is to face the stimulus over and over again. Familiarity means less fear of getting it wrong.

And that means using your new language skills as often as possible. Take a look online; are there online German speaking communities that could be useful?

#8 Listen

The digital age means we live in an increasingly smaller world where we can easily access newspaper and TV programmes from around the world.

Listening is also part of learning a new language. For example, some languages pronounce letters and combinations of letters differently.

Invest in spending time listening to German music stations, accessing German TV programmes via the web and other German language outlets.

#9 Watch People Talk

To get the sounds right, you will need to move and use your tongue differently to form different shapes. And this means watching the expressions and shapes of people’s faces as they speak German. Enjoy a German language film – how do facial expressions change with different sounds.

It sounds odd, but maybe the way in which you are holding your mouth and tongue is stopping you from grasping the sounds correctly.

#10 Deutsch Sprechen Jeden Tag

The translation? Speak German every day – or whichever language you are using.

This can be having a conversation with yourself, listening to German-language music and pop songs, reading a German article aloud from the Internet – there are so many tasks and activities you can complete in German or the language you are choosing to learn.

Above all, make it fun and enjoy it!

 

Translations

ohne zwiebeln – without onions

perfekt – perfect