Can we study more than one language at the same time?
If a person is learning a language and wants to learn a second or even a third language, Neuroscience explains that it is possible, but first, you need to learn how your brain works so that you can then develop specific skills for fast and effective learning.
Learning a new language is knowing how to make correct connections with your brain. Once we discover how our brain learns and memorizes, we activate our subconscious and unlock its potential. It is possible to learn 2, 3, 4 languages at the same time if we develop this skill, have the right discipline, and ways to study.
The biggest secret is, first, to learn how the brain works, to respect your time (each one has their time, and this will determine the quality of their learning). Learning is extremely personal. You have to find what works best for you, what suits your lifestyle, your daily routine, and understand that it is a process of continuous improvement.
How do we learn?
“To have a healthy brain, learn a language”
That was the advice that a doctor geriatrician to one of my coachees. And I totally agree with him. Why?
According to a new study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, if you want to gain proficiency similar to a native speaker, you must start learning the language before the age of 10. Interestingly, children up to 17 or 18 years old remain highly skilled to understand the grammar of a new language, but this is where the skill begins to decline.
Measuring the grammatical capacity of 670,000 people of different ages and nationalities, using a test developed by the group of researchers, the scientists asked participants their age, how long they were learning English and in what setting, and then took a test to determine whether sentences were written grammatically correct.
Approximately 246,000 participants grew up speaking only English, while the rest were bilingual or multilingual. The most common native languages - excluding English — were Finnish, Turkish, German, Russian, and Hungarian. Most of the people who completed the test were between 20 and 30 years old. However, the youngest participant was 10 years old and the oldest was 70 years old.
After analyzing the data, using a computer model, the scientists revealed that grammar learning was stronger in childhood and persisted in adolescence. However, learning a language in adulthood, even if there is a biological, social or cultural change: it increases brain power, improves memory, improves the ability to multitask, to make decisions, in addition to making the native language also improved, as it arouses the desire and interest to learn and improve.
How to learn everything — the first 20 hours
Hyper-polyglots
Language is our human birthright. Children, barely able to feed or dress themselves, quickly master the basics of the languages to which they are exposed, with no educational instruction, just listening and repeating what they hear around them. But while most can speak at least one language, some of us may even know two or three — hyperpolyglots — can speak five, six, or more languages fluently. What makes them so special?
Language learning is a slow, staged process that takes time, quality work, and patience. All learning is an adventure. And there are no defined rules. If you decide to embark on multiple adventures, consider the conditions you will face. If you think you can do it, keep in mind the tips mentioned above. And good luck!
PS: Thank you dear Corine Vasconcelos for inspiring me to research and write about this topic. I hope these tips can positively influence your studies and learning.
Source:
Brain and Language, 1984, Journal — Elsevier Publisher
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