Japanese "literally unlearnable" at an older age

[Mulboyne]

[james]

while i won't argue that many people are likely incapable of learning a new language to an advanced degree of proficiency when older (or even after puberty for that matter), there are certainly individuals that buck this trend.

"You literally cannot learn these languages at an older age," she said, noting that she had tried.

okay lady, just because you're too stupid to do so, don't assume others are and can't.

to simply say that x is unlearnable after age y is something of a blanket statement and quite often simply untrue. i realize that 13 is considered a cutoff of sorts for language acquisition, but many adult learners, some with no previous foreign language learning experience, do so quite successfully. i wouldn't be at all surprised if those adults which are incapable of learning a foreign language would have been equally incapable as children. one also needs to take environment (necessity) into account.

personally, i started learning japanese when i was 17, which while still young, is probably closer to an adult learning model. i was fortunate (i delude myself into thinking) to have completed a french immersion curriculum myself. surely previous learning experience can be put to use. since then, i have enjoyed dabbling in various languages, any of which, i think, given time and proper devotion, i could master should i choose to.

[Ganma]

"You literally cannot learn these languages at an older age,"

bullshit. Too bad about the cuts. But I don't agree with that statement.

[FG Lurker]

The better question though is why any school would waste money on creating an immersion program for a language of waning importance...

[hundefar]

The better question though is why any school would waste money on creating an immersion program for a language of wanking importance...

Fixed. Now, on to the J-porn.

[FG Lurker]

Fixed. Now, on to the J-porn.

I didn't need to study Japanese for years to be able to wank to J-porn though...

[Tsuru]

"You literally cannot learn these languages at an older age,"

bullshit. Too bad about the cuts. But I don't agree with that statement.

It is true that your learning ability (languages and otherwise) declines with age.

[hundefar]

I didn't need to study Japanese for years to be able to wank to J-porn though...

But to REALLY understand it you do.

[Ganma]

It is true that your learning ability (languages and otherwise) declines with age.

This is true but 'literally cannot learn' is an overstatement. Like some other posters here I started later in life (20) and have managed pretty well.It's all about the motivation.
I doubt this woman tried very hard as she stated. She probably went to a freebe weekend course taught by local obasans, fell to sleep for 2 hours and called that trying.

[SpikeX]

Being 23, I'm not having too hard of a time. I would be doing better if I didn't have to go out to sea for months every time I start really getting into speaking Japanese jibber jabber on a daily basis. But learing a bit of spanish at around 10 really helped with the whole flipped-around grammer thing.

still... this lady is dumb

[maraboutslim]

When people say "literally" these days, they don't really mean literally. They literally mean "figuratively". You'll hear people say, "I literally died when I heard that," or "The curry was so hot my mouth was literally on fire." Uh, sure.

[Yokohammer]

When people say "literally" these days, they don't really mean literally. They literally mean "figuratively". You'll hear people say, "I literally died when I heard that," or "The curry was so hot my mouth was literally on fire." Uh, sure.

Yeah, people who talk like that are literally illiterate.

[AssKissinger]

I was almost 30 when I first arrived in Japan and Lord knows I couldn't learn it for shit. The sad thing was I tried.

[(1VB)freels]

I tried to learn it too... I went to college when I was in my late 20's and I got a B.. But I can't remember shit now.. It's all this sea time.. I really need to get stationed on shore duty to really immerse myself in Japanese.

[FG Lurker]

I was 24 when I started to study Japanese. I have no particular ability with languages (flunked out of French in HS) but I managed well enough. I'd never claim to be fluent, and study was a real bitch, but I used it at work daily for 6 years as the only gaijin in the office, including meeting with vendors and leading in-house project meetings. No more corporate life for me but I still use it in business and of course daily life.

Starting earlier (ie elementary school) no doubt makes it easier but it is far from impossible to start as an adult.

[BO-SENSEI]

Starting earlier (ie elementary school) no doubt makes it easier but it is far from impossible to start as an adult.

Of course it is much easier to learn a language in school, you are being required to learn it, given tests, and maybe even taught how to learn it properly. By the time you are an adult, chances are you are employed and can't devote the same amount of time studying a language that you normally would if you were in school. And instead of making sure you know what you are saying its pretty much trial and error.

[FG Lurker]

Of course it is much easier to learn a language in school, you are being required to learn it, given tests, and maybe even taught how to learn it properly.

I think you missed the part of my message where I said I flunked out of French in HS. I actually had 8 years of enforced French study and I can't speak a word.

By the time you are an adult, chances are you are employed and can't devote the same amount of time studying a language that you normally would if you were in school. And instead of making sure you know what you are saying its pretty much trial and error.

If you are an adult and studying a language chances are you are doing it because you WANT to or because you NEED it to advance from your current position. This is far more motivating than being a kid and TOLD to study.

[dimwit]

If they are talking about writing Japanese I would be inclined to agree that it is extremely difficult to master as an adult due to all the Kanji. Spoken Japanese however is a fairly easy to acquire, not that I ever make much of an effort.