Hoboken Public Library Blog

LANGUAGE LEARNING MYTH #1: I’m too old to learn a new language.

FALSE. There is a common assumption that children are better at learning languages than adults. They might be better at picking up pronunciation, but otherwise, adults have many advantages over kids. Adults already have pre-existing language knowledge. Adults understand how conjugation works, what an adjective does, etc. Meanwhile, children struggle with many aspects of language. For example, they have a hard time with irregular verbs (e.g., saying “runned” instead of “ran”). Additionally, babies take years before they can even utter a word. An adult? Well, you can learn how to say a few basic phrases in a day!

LANGUAGE LEARNING MYTH #2: I don’t have an innate talent for languages, so I can’t learn.

FALSE. Everyone is capable of learning a language. While it’s true that some people pick up on certain aspects of language more quickly, those same people can also peter out when they reach an intermediate level (trust me, I’ve been there before). Everyone has different strengths, but it is not talent that makes them fluent. It is regular practice and determination.

LANGUAGE LEARNING MYTH #3: I need to spend money on materials and on travel to learn a language.

FALSE. You can obtain a various amount of language learning resources from the library FOR FREE. In addition to language learning materials on our shelves, the library offers free access to software programs that normally would require payment, such as Rosetta Stone and Mango Languages. The Hoboken Public Library and Friends of the Library also provides free ESL practice every month, which will be starting a new series of classes in September. Language learners can also benefit from free access to video lessons on Universal Class and movies in several languages and language lessons from The Great Courses on Kanopy. If you’ve got your Hoboken Resident Library Card, you don’t even need to leave the house! And travel? Sure, immersion can be useful, but it doesn’t always work. There are a lot of factors that go into making full immersion a successful method, and as I’ve mentioned before, it is possible to become fluent without moving to a country (or locale) where a certain language is spoken. The most important thing is PRACTICE, and that practice must be applied to the four language skills: reading, writing, speaking, listening. If you consistently practice all of these skills, then you will achieve your goals.

Before you begin your language journey, make sure you have a goal in mind. This is of the utmost importance. “I want to be fluent” is not a good enough goal. It is vague and will not motivate you when you eventually reach a rough patch. What does fluent even truly mean? (We can save that conversation for another day…) What you want is a more specific goal, and remember, you can add another goal once you achieve the first. It is entirely fine to have short-term goals. Good examples of language learning goals are: “I want to be able to have small talk with my friend” or “I want to be able to read X book.”  These are specific and realistic goals that will help you keep focused and stay on track.

In my next post, I’ll provide you with a walkthrough of a software program you can have free access to through the library: Mango Languages. In the meantime, why don’t you check out the library’s many resources and choose a language to study?

Written by:
Samantha Evaristo
Hoboken Library Outreach Assistant

Tags: ESL, Great Courses, Kanopy, Mango, Rosetta Stone, universal class