Learn another language as an adult

My experience learning German has been long and complicated. I was first exposed to the language at a language immersion camp when I was 7 years old, but I really started taking my learning seriously at 14. Since no one in my family spoke any other language than English and my school didn’t offer German classes, I was resigned to learning German through my weeks at camp and what I could teach myself.

After taking a few German classes at the University of Michigan and spending some time in Germany, I’ve realized that most of my advanced German acquisition has come in my adult years, which certainly hasn’t been easy. Even though I’ve sometimes wondered how much simpler it’d be to have grown up in a multilingual household or gone to a school with more robust funding for foreign language education, I ultimately wouldn’t have my language learning journey any other way. I’ve put in endless hard work that’s resulted in an honest love for the language — and that’s made all the difference. 

We often hear that learning another language is extremely difficult — if not impossible — as an adult. Some research has demonstrated that this is partially true. Adult language learners might find it more difficult to pick up on grammar concepts as these abilities decline after adolescence. However, this does not mean learning another language in your 20s, 40s or even your 60s is an aimless endeavor. In fact, even if you have two or three total languages under your belt from childhood, that doesn’t mean you can’t or shouldn’t consider adding another to your repertoire. For one, there’s the benefit that always comes with learning another language: cross-cultural connection. 

Taking steps toward learning a foreign language also means taking steps toward gaining new experiences, exploring new cultures and forging new friendships. As we get older, we unfortunately begin to lose some of the avenues in which we usually make friends, such as school or work. Beginning to pick up another language, then, means opening up new doors for yourself. When you’re the one to put in the effort of picking up a new tongue, you can find friendship with someone you might have otherwise never spoken to. You’ll also be able to find new ways of understanding in various music, books, movies, TV shows and more.

But beyond culture and building connections, there are also practical reasons to start your language learning now. Having an extra language listed on your resume, for example, can make you a more attractive candidate to employers. The ability to simply communicate with others inside and outside your workspace is not something every prospect can offer, even if you don’t speak your target language like a native. Learning another language also demonstrates to future employers or graduate programs your motivation and may even be grounds for an increased salary.

There are also cognitive benefits to consider. Although adults may find it more difficult than young children to pick up on language concepts, noticeable shifts such as increased brain plasticity still occur when learning a foreign language. These shifts translate to tangible benefits including increased concentration, memory and communication skills. And while further research might be required, some findings suggest that language learning can even curb age-related decline such as dementia.

When it comes to taking on a new language, there’s no time like the present. Whether or not you’ve completed any sort of language requirement, LSA offers courses for languages coming from every corner of the globe. From Spanish to Ojibwe, there’s certainly a language to strike anyone’s interest inside of the classroom. 

If you find that you don’t have the time or money for a whole course, consider instead the resources available across the internet, many of which are free. Language apps like Duolingo, Rosetta Stone and Busuu (my personal favorite) provide bite-sized lessons as well as notifications and streak counters to keep you motivated to learn. On social media platforms such as TikTok, YouTube and Instagram, you can also find various creators dedicated to teaching your target language. 

We are fortunate to live in a time when a wealth of information is at our fingertips. You might think learning a whole new language is too large a commitment; but, even the smallest baby steps — when done with consistency, dedication and intention — can take you farther than you’d expect. After all, it’s probably better than doomscrolling.

Also remember that fluency need not be your North Star when it comes to language learning. Should you choose to pick up a new language as an adult, it can be for more than just listing your French skills as “full professional fluency” on LinkedIn. Instead, it can also be for the benefit of watching your favorite foreign film without subtitles or having a non-English conversation with a multilingual neighbor. Speaking like a native doesn’t need to be your ultimate goal, but reaching new ground with a language foreign to you should be.

As college students, there’s no better time than now to log back into Duolingo or start a whole new language journey. The professional world and travel aspirations lie ahead and learning another language can only help, not hinder, our near futures. In the case that now really isn’t the time, know that the opportunity will never truly go away. Even if learning a new language can get more challenging than it would have been in our childhoods, it’s what we make of our learning at any stage of our lives that’s key.

Audra Woehle is an Opinion Columnist currently studying abroad in Freiburg, Germany. In her column, “Audra Abroad,” she writes about culture, identity and travel. She can be reached at awoehle@umich.edu.

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