“English is now the lingua franca. That’s how it is. You have to speak English if you want to act and move in globalisation”. said Edouard Phillippe 2018, who was the then former French Prime Minister.
Over the last decades, the need to learn English has increased. More and more adults of various nationalities look for the assistance of English teachers to boost their chances of employment abroad, to improve their workplace communication, or simply to take advantage of different types of social situations. Whatever the reason, there is a strong demand for the English language learning, which is the most-spoken language in the world.
You might be asking yourself, ‘What is the best age to learn a new language’? There is no magic age for learning a second language. Yes, learning a new language at any age is difficult, but a common misunderstanding is that adult learners are less successful language learners than younger students, because younger students have more flexible brains than adults, which impacts their cognitive functions (i.e., thinking skills) and abilities. However, this is not true! Younger students may well be better at the pronunciation of English words, but adults are perfectly capable of achieving high levels of English skills.
Agreed, one of the hardest things your brain can do is learn a new language, so, it can be difficult for adults to gain the motivation to learn English.
However, to find the most appealing and most effective method of learning, English language teachers have developed their teaching styles by not using outdated English materials and resources to inspire adults, but by planning and creating interactive lessons – which makes learning more pleasant, such as, using technology for ESL games, creating role plays and scenarios for specific purposes, dictation practice to improve writing skills, and sharing personal life experiences with students, are just a few examples of how adults are stimulated in the classroom – which are all excellent ways that help adults learn English.
All students, either young, old, teenagers, or adults can reach high levels of competency in a second language, and the learning environment is likely to be the reason why.
Did you know, that according to a prior study on this topic, one way to start improving and developing your English language skills is through English movies? Research from numerous authors has also revealed that the majority of adult learners stated that watching English movies helps them learn English since they show real-life language used by native speakers. This, of course, does not work for everyone. Adults can learn English, but it’s all about finding how you learn.
Adults are sometimes set in their ways, which can make the task of motivating them to learn quite difficult. The good news is that it is not impossible.
You must find the motivation!
From reading this article, you have learned that, learning English as an adult is possible, although it requires a huge amount of time and effort.
Just remember the importance of learning English. It is an international language that allows you to speak to people from all over the world, and most importantly, it can enhance your career!
Author: Uwais