You want to learn French.

You’re not 16 anymore. In fact, you’re not even under 30, 40, 50 and so on.

You have a deep desire to experience France, it’s culture and people but you’ve heard that older learners have it hard (or at least that’s what you believe).

So let’s get the facts straight about how things really are.

The desire and lack of raging hormones

Unfortunately, for some of us, the desire to learn a new language doesn’t come early in our lives.

I’m sure a good proportion of us wish for a time machine. We could then go back to our youth and do all those things our annoying parents told us to do. Like studying for French instead of… you know… exploring French kissing with that hot, smoking chick from 6th grade.

But we cant do that, can we? No. We just have the memories…

So we just have to swallow that bitter pill and face it in the here and now. Or find a Delorian.

But the good news is that you DO have something now that trumps anything that hormone-fueled teenager could throw at the problem. Desire. You didn’t have it then. Well not for French at least or we wouldn’t be talking about it now.

But you do have the desire now, right? Desire will keep you driven. Desire will keep you motivated when things get tough.

Hormones are a just a huge distraction.

Brain no work no more

Most people believe that as we get older our cognitive ability declines.

We get these beliefs from the media, our parents, our grandparents. Even from ourselves as we start losing our keys. It’s hard not to maintain the stereotype of old people losing their marbles.

But nearly all of the recent science done on the human brain points to the fact that it remains plastic’ in old age. That basically means that the brain can form new pathways. That it can learn effectively.

One recent study even highlighted that older people could actually be learning too much. That they pay more attention to details in situations and thus fill up our limited brain capacity with needless information.

Time

A few years ago, my father decided to start playing guitar at the young age of 65. After a couple of years, he was already competent. He now even plays at jamming sessions in the local boozer.

How did he get so good?

He had time to dedicate to his newfound hobby. Time and the aforementioned desire.

I think you’d agree that as you get older and your responsibilities diminish somewhat, you have more time to do the things you want. When you’re 18 years old, cramming the odd hour of French study between video games might seem impossible. It’s not. It’s just your priorities about what’s important are vastly different.

As you get older your priorities shift. Frivolous activities make way for more productive ones. It’s not just the amount of free time that you have, its the way you apply it.