Why is it easier for children to learn multiple languages fluently compared to adults ?

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Exposure of multiple languages to children at a young age can help them learn languages faster and more fluently than if exposed as adults. Is it because children’s brains are more receptive to language at a young age? Is it because your mind has already developed a ‘default’ language when you’re older?
Why isn’t this pattern applicable to something like mathematics/any other subject?

In: Biology

7 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

There’s been a little bit of a pushback on some of these ideas in this thread recently and some serious criticism of traditional second language learning approaches. For all of the sense it makes that kids have better neuroplasticity, one significant factor is that for the first 6-7 years of your life your only job is to learn language. If you as an adult dedicate the same length of time completely immersed in a foreign language with no other job other than to learn that language you’d reach a very high level in your target language too. Kids may also learn more easily, too, but they’re pretty much in 24/7 language learning mode.

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