This is true my friend was in Germany when he was little and he only has about a 3 year old grasp of the language My German is better than his and I have never lived or even been there!
The claim "adults are better language learners, if you pay them a $1M incentive", may, or may not, be true. I met my grandson's cousins recently - they were 4 year twins. They were monosyllabic at first, in their replies. Then they were playing with a hand-puppet, and immediately were able to speak in "adult voices", fluently. I'm not at all convinced, from this, that an adult would beat a 3 year old in your contest, even if $1M was on offer.
@richardmullins44 It has been too long since I made this video I do not remember what I said. However, I hope I said that adults have an advantage over children in that they have more experience and a wider vocabulary in their own language. They can be reading literature in months if they want. Children cannot do that but they are less inhibited, less set in their ways, and produce the sounds of the new language quite effortlessly and without noticing.
"adults are better language learners". You say that an adult would win a $1M bet over a 3 year old, to have an adult conversation within a year. You may well be right. But this does not establish that adults are better language learners - unless the $1M is in fact on offer.
Thank you very much. You are an inspiration not only for everyone who wants to learn a new language but you are great example that age has nothing to do with mental capabilities. Too many elderly people just waste their possibilities. My own mother always claims that she won't learn new things "because she's too old for that" :D
I think you've hit the nail on the head when you talk about the difference between children and adults when learning languages. I feel that one of the biggest barriers adults have is that they expect to be able to express themselves in as complex a way in their target language as they do in their native one - and when, in the early stages, they can't do this, they become frustrated and discouraged and are unwilling to 'become children' again.
Hi there!
Great video and info.
Kostas.
kakosuranosx 3 weeks ago
I do think children remember vocab easier!
GriffenJC 1 month ago
This is true my friend was in Germany when he was little and he only has about a 3 year old grasp of the language My German is better than his and I have never lived or even been there!
GriffenJC 1 month ago
This is inspiring and definitely gives hope for older language learners. Thank you!
paisleyyama 1 year ago
The claim "adults are better language learners, if you pay them a $1M incentive", may, or may not, be true. I met my grandson's cousins recently - they were 4 year twins. They were monosyllabic at first, in their replies. Then they were playing with a hand-puppet, and immediately were able to speak in "adult voices", fluently. I'm not at all convinced, from this, that an adult would beat a 3 year old in your contest, even if $1M was on offer.
richardmullins44 1 year ago
@richardmullins44 It has been too long since I made this video I do not remember what I said. However, I hope I said that adults have an advantage over children in that they have more experience and a wider vocabulary in their own language. They can be reading literature in months if they want. Children cannot do that but they are less inhibited, less set in their ways, and produce the sounds of the new language quite effortlessly and without noticing.
lingosteve 1 year ago
"adults are better language learners". You say that an adult would win a $1M bet over a 3 year old, to have an adult conversation within a year. You may well be right. But this does not establish that adults are better language learners - unless the $1M is in fact on offer.
richardmullins44 1 year ago
Thank you very much. You are an inspiration not only for everyone who wants to learn a new language but you are great example that age has nothing to do with mental capabilities. Too many elderly people just waste their possibilities. My own mother always claims that she won't learn new things "because she's too old for that" :D
RawonamSuxx 1 year ago
'snowball' hahha funny.
Good Info!
concertmatell 2 years ago
I think you've hit the nail on the head when you talk about the difference between children and adults when learning languages. I feel that one of the biggest barriers adults have is that they expect to be able to express themselves in as complex a way in their target language as they do in their native one - and when, in the early stages, they can't do this, they become frustrated and discouraged and are unwilling to 'become children' again.
storebror21 3 years ago 8
Thank you
catwoman316 3 years ago
Absolutely.
red213 4 years ago