Too old to learn Spanish?

Learning a language is something that can be done at any age. While I am spending 6 months here in Salamanca, as part of my university degree, languages can be learnt at any stage of life, and not only through formal qualifications.

Learning to communicate in another language can be done by the old and young alike. My mum started to learn Spanish a year or so ago, going to weekly classes in England with the hope that it will help her get herself from place to place when she comes to visit me!

Many people who retire decide to take up new hobbies and language courses are something people often choose to invest their new found time in. Language schools often run courses especially for older people.

Despite people´s worries that it will be more difficult to learn a new language because they are older, older learners actually learn more quickly in the early stages. What´s more is that they are often more motivated to learn than the young as they recognize the benefits of knowing another language. Older learners are often more worried about making mistakes and doubt their own ability but there is no reason why they cannot succeed at learning a second language.

Some of my neighbours at home are using their new found freedom following their retirement to travel more. Knowing the language – even if it is only a few key phrases – of somewhere you go on holiday really does make it a better experience. How much more impressive does it sound to be able to start a conversation with “¿Dónde está el banco?” than having to resort to the same old “where is the bank?” that you use back home!

Language learning keeps the brain agile. Researchers from York University in Toronto found that bilingual people kept their mental capacity better than those who can only speak one language.

So it would seem that however old you are, it is possible to learn a new language. What´s more there are many reasons to learn Spanish, you won´t only be learning to communicate with foreign people but also helping to keep your brain agile. ¡Buena suerte!