Learning another language is a highly complex mental activity. It requires people to remember words, distinguish unfamiliar sounds, recognize patterns, work out grammatical rules and retrieve the right expression at the right moment. All of this happens while listening, interpreting and preparing a response. Could all this mental activity also help keep an aging brain […] … learn more→
Blog Archives
Learning another language may be one of the best ways to keep your brain healthy as you age
Where did language come from? Nobody really knows, but the theories are fascinating
Humans are the only species known to use fully symbolic language: a system capable of expressing abstract ideas, imaginary worlds and endless combinations of meaning. But how did we get there? The origins of language have fascinated philosophers, scientists and storytellers for thousands of years. Despite all our advances in linguistics, archaeology and cognitive science, we still […] … learn more→
Is it possible to have dyslexia in one language but not in another?
Marcos, a bilingual teenager growing up with two languages and two distinct approaches to reading, keeps up relatively well in Spanish Language and Literature class: he reads slowly and makes some mistakes, but he understands the texts and participates without too much difficulty. In English, however, he hesitates over common words, loses his place in […] … learn more→
If AI can translate instantly, why learn another language?
From live speech translation in video calls to auto-dubbing on TikTok, the technology to dissolve language barriers has arrived. Real-time translation powered by artificial intelligence (AI) is now embedded in everyday life. Tools from OpenAI, Meta, Google and many others now offer near-instant translation across dozens of languages, and they keep improving. All this raises a vital question. If […] … learn more→
It’s never too late to learn a language – adults and kids bring different strengths to the task
There’s a common assumption that if someone starts learning a language when they are very young, they will quickly become fluent. Many people also assume that it will become much harder to learn a language if they start later in life. Research into language learning shows that how old someone is when they learn a language does matter, […] … learn more→
Five myths about learning a new language – busted
Language learning is often a daunting prospect. Many of us wish we had learned a language to a higher level at school. But even though adults of all ages can do well in acquiring a new language, fear – or the memory of struggling to memorise grammar at school – can hold us back. We […] … learn more→
Your age shouldn’t put you off learning a new language – what the research says
If you’ve always wanted to learn a new language, don’t let age put you off. People aged over 60 can be independent and flexible in how they learn a language – and successful, too. There is ample evidence from decades of research that, as we age, some of our perceptual and cognitive abilities gradually decline. Our […] … learn more→
This is how reading helps us put ourselves in the shoes of others.
Imagine a child reading the story of a refugee girl who crosses the sea to flee a war. By the end of the book, that child has not only learned new words: they have felt fear, hope, anger, relief… This is one of the powers of literature: its ability to make us experience other people’s […] … learn more→
Digital writing: a challenge for teaching?
Acquiring written language is a complex process that spans an entire school year. And the omnipresence of digital tools requires rethinking how we learn, as screens require a different way of processing information. From notebooks to computers or smartphones, the logic is no longer the same. Here are some ideas for reflection. “Writing is not […] … learn more→
Less syntax, more impulses… The challenges of writing in the digital age
The digital environment is profoundly changing the way we write. Fewer rules, more reflexes: writing is becoming fast, spontaneous, often dictated by voice or copied and pasted. A new chapter in a story that began over 5,000 years ago. Writing was born under the sign of economy and memory (pastoral accounting, recording of debts). Around […] … learn more→
