You are a monolingual adult: have you missed the language boat? Ralby argues "a key language myth is that it's harder as an adult". Adults and children may learn in different ways but that shouldn't deter¹ you from committing to learning another language. "Languages are simultaneously² organic and systematic³. As children we learn languages organically and instinctively⁴; as adults we can learn them systematically⁵."

 

If you're still not convinced of your chances, Ralby suggests drawing inspiration from early philologists⁶ and founders⁷ of linguistics⁸ who "learned dozens of languages to encyclopaedic levels as adult.

 

Speaking your first language may be second nature, but that doesn't necessarily mean you understand it well. Kerstin Hammes, editor of the Fluent Language Blog, believes you can't make good progress in a second language until you understand your own. "I think understanding your native language and just generally how language works is so essential before you launch yourself at a bunch of foreign phrases."

 

 

Different approaches may be necessary at different stages of the learning process. Once you have reached a certain level of proficiency⁹ and can say quite a bit, fairly accurately¹⁰, Rebecca Braun, senior lecturer in German studies at Lancaster University, says it is typical to feel a slowing down in progress. "Translation," she says, "is such an important exercise for helping¹¹ you get over a certain plateau that you will reach as a language learner ... Translation exercises don't allow you to paraphrase¹² and force the learner on to the next level.".

 

 

Many of the panellists were cautious of the F-word. Hammes argues not only is it difficult to define what fluency is, but "as a goal it is so much bigger than it deserves to be. Language learning never stops because it's culture learning, personal growth and endless improvement. I believe that this is where learners go wrong".

 

 

It may not be an option for everyone but Braun reminds us that "if you are serious about learning the language and getting direct pleasure from what you have learned, you need to go to where that language is spoken".

 

Travel and living abroad can complement¹⁴ learning in the classroom: "The books and verb charts may be the easiest way to ensure you expose yourself to the language at home, but the people and the culture will far outclass them once you get to the country where your language is spoken."

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