Photo credit: koka_sexton
Editor’s note: This post originally appeared on this blog in November 2009.
I was recently talking to somebody of Hispanic descent who wasn’t taught Spanish at home, but learned it later on in life. She vowed she wouldn’t follow her parents’ footsteps, but ended up doing exactly the same thing with her kids who are now elementary school-aged. “And, now it’s too late!” she lamented. I immediately reassured her that it’s never too late – that’s just a common myth. It is, however, definitely much easier the younger they are.
If you’re raising bilingual children, you’ve probably heard of the ‘critical period’ or ‘language learning window’, but what exactly does all this mean?
There is significant disagreement among language experts as to how long this period lasts and whether the ‘window’ actually closes – if at all.
“We think of a window closing and the opportunity going away forever. I don’t think that is an accurate perspective,” said Barbara Zurer Pearson, one of our own Ask an Expert contributors. “Learning a second language is easier for children under 10, and even easier for children under 5, compared to the much greater effort it takes adults.”
Many experts do agree that there seems to be an ‘optimal’ time period for learning a second language: from birth to three years. In other words, right along the period when a child is learning the first language. The time when his mind is still open and flexible. If you’ve been following us for a while, you know this describes the learning scenario of parents raising their children bilingual by using the OPOL method – which means the kids are exposed to two languages at the same time and hopefully with the same frequency and intensity.
After that, the second best time for learning a second (or third and even a fourth) language appears to be when they are between two and seven years old. (This is one of the reasons why we should all push for public schools to start foreign language education as soon as our kids enter through their doors – instead of when they get to high school.)
If your child is older than seven and you’ve been thinking about raising him bilingual, don’t think all is lost. A third period for learning a second language in childhood is before puberty, from about 10 to 13 years of age.
The main thing to remember is that it is never too late. If this is something you’ve been wanting to do, but have said to yourself that the time has passed, think again. Keep in mind, though, that it will take a lot of work from all the parts involved to change your behavior. Be consistent, but also flexible.
“You might want to call children’s early facility an opportunity we want to take advantage of. But the window is never nailed shut,” reassured Zurer Pearson. “Given the right environment and motivation, one can learn another language at any age.”
You are spot on with your comments Roxana! Thank you / gracias for including Barbara Zurer Pearson’s comments of the window of opportunity for language learning as well.
I recall starting to learn Spanish as my 2nd language at the ‘ripe old age’ (!!!) of 12, in what was called Junior High back in the 70s! What a gift I gave myself – year after year after year of Spanish.
And as Dr. Kendall King and Dr. Alison Mackey report in their book titled The Bilingual Edge, it is NEVER too late to learn a 2nd, 3rd, 4th language as our very own Roxana agrees!
We were just discussing this topic my Mother and I, it appears that my older sister speaks more english than spanish at home and how her kids 4 and 3, the 3 year is more open to my sister’s spanish lessons but the 4 year old, said, ” I don’t like speaking spanish!”, but I say it’s still too early to get discouraged.
I learned english when I was 8. so no I don’t think it’s ever too late to learn a new language, here I am 33 years old and learning Croatian!
We were just discussing this topic my Mother and I, it appears that my older sister speaks more english than spanish at home and how her kids 4 and 3, the 3 year is more open to my sister’s spanish lessons but the 4 year old, said, ” I don’t like speaking spanish!”, but I say it’s still too early to get discouraged.
I learned english when I was 8. so no I don’t think it’s ever too late to learn a new language,just look at me, here I am 33 years old and learning Croatian!
I can vouch for this. I started learning French in high school and did really well (though I admit it certainly helped knowing Spanish).
So often I lament over my own children, who are English dominant because their sole source of Spanish is me, and I really struggle to pass it on. But Roxana, this post is encouraging and helps motivate me to continue with my decision to raise bilingual and bicultural children as best I can.
I’m glad to see that all is not lost at the age of 4. I try hard, but it’s difficult when everything else is in English. But, as Monica said, I’m going to keep going and do the best I can.
Melanie, I suggest you use the opportunity of a new sibling to introduce more Spanish. Try to make it a point to talk to the new baby in Spanish as much as you can. I think it’s not that hard to do because you’d have to use only a few words and simple phrases… Even if your daughter doesn’t speak to you in Spanish, the exposure is absolutely wonderful.
Hope!!! It’s what I read here. I’ve been talking Spanish to my kids since they were born, however English is so dominant, some days I feel I’m losing the battle. However I know I still have time to make adjustments. My kids are exposed to two languages, but not at the same frequency and intensity, I need to improve that.
I learned English nine years ago… Still learning… That’s why I’m so committed to raising my kids bilingual, it’s a lot easier for them now!
It’s true, it’s never too late. We just need the “ganas” and “patience”, the second one is the most important one, hahaha! I’ve met some parents that think that 2 is already old, and I say no way!! I started insisting really hard with the Spanish when my little boy was 2 and the results are amazing!
I was around 30 when I started learning Spanish and I became fluent. My daughter was a teenager and never much interested in it, but just from being around it the last few years she understands quite a lot of what she hears and can even speak simple phrases. It was definitely much easier for her whereas I had to work at it. But the point is it’s never too late.
The place I work at offers their employees free access to Rosetta Stone – which I hear is an incredible method to learn a foreign language. I haven’t had the chance to check it out fully, but as soon as I do I’ll take up a fourth language. I just have to decide between Italian and Portuguese. We’ll see. If I could spend the rest of my life learning languages, I would. I believe 100% that it’s never too late!
Great post! I’m hoping that now that we’re living with my mom, the kids pick up some Spanish. I hear my nena of 3 years learning little by little… (: xx crossing my fingers for my 5 and 11yos xx