Why do children learn languages faster than adults?

We've often heard it said: “Children pick up a language on their own, but for us it's so hard.”

But is it really a question of age, or is there something else? The truth is that the way children learn is completely different from the way adults learn.

Children aren't afraid of making mistakes. A child speaks without thinking twice. They get it wrong, laugh and try again. They don't ask themselves: “Do I sound bad?” or “Did someone laugh at me?”

Adults, on the contrary, think hard about a word before they say it. They analyse it, correct themselves and often stay silent. A language isn't learned in silence.

Children don't study a language, they live it. Children don't sit down with grammar books. They listen, imitate, repeat and use the language in real situations. Adults often start with rules, tables and definitions, and in doing so forget the main reason: to communicate.

Children's brains are more flexible. At a young age, the brain is like a sponge. It takes in sounds, accent and structure without any trouble. Adults already have a language stored in their brain, so when they want to speak a new one, they first translate it in their head, compare constantly and find it harder to let go. But that doesn't mean it's too late.

Here's the good news: adults can learn just as well if they change their approach.

What can we learn from children?

• To speak even when we're not perfect
• To use the language every day, not only in class
• Not to be afraid of mistakes

A language doesn't demand perfection, it demands courage. If today you understand the language but don't speak it yet, the problem isn't your age. The problem is fear, the wish to be perfect and the way you're learning. Children show us every day that a language is learned by using it, not by overthinking it.