Though this article reveals the side benefit of learning language at a later age, I choose to focus on its glass-half-empty takeaway: time is running out to become proficient in another language. I better get this show on the road if I ever hope to bavarder with the best of them (not to mention hablar or leh-soh-kheh-ahkh – that’s chitchat in Hebrew).
To that end, I spent my last day off finally figuring out Anki and creating flashcards for the fifty or so words I’ve jotted down so far. I also read a random article about the special needs of refugee children who come to France, and I was delighted to discover that I understood every single sentence if not every single word. And tonight I’m going to queue up another episode of Destinos, which has taken a rather boring turn now that I’m about halfway through and she of the scrunchies and pastel pantsuits, Raquel Rodriguez, is back in Mexico after adventures in Spain, Argentina and Puerto Rico. I’m hoping the energy will pick up again soon, once Raquel is reunited with her Porteño love interest, Arturo, who’s en route to join her at the moment. Not that there is anything remotely sexy about them – I have only ever seen them hold hands and stage-kiss and giggle together. I suppose that’s what’s to be expected from a soap opera made for high school students.
(Photo: Swim Parallel)
talk foreign to me 
I think to learn a language over 50 years old, is not easy. However, what does really work is if you are in a group of same aged people who all support each other….that is the key (and of course you have to really want to learn something new, many people over 50 don’t want to. Simple as that)
I agree, that’s why I love French conversation Meetups despite dreading them. They are usually attended by people ages 30-70+. Everyone is at a different speaking level but it’s always very supportive and encouraging. No one expresses impatience when it takes me ten minutes to get one sentence out. 🙂 What language are you learning?
I myself personally are trying to learn Arabic, but at our school we often have students over the age of 50 and I’d say only about 1 in 10 actually can handle learning English, most don’t make it out of the beginners level.
Good luck with Arabic! 1 in 10 is such a depressing figure but I hope with tenacity and courage that we are two of the lucky few! 🙂
Thanks. It’s really about attitude, and I don’t mean working hard, because these students we have work very hard, but it’s about opening your mind..that’s the hardest part. Yes hopefully we will be the exceptions to the rule. All the best.
Great reading your blogg