The beauty of learning any new language is that there are no prerequisites! You can start at any point in your life and make rapid progress whether you are learning it as a toddler or a senior. Age is never a key factor in preventing you from learning a language. Age might not be relevant but there are other traits that are far greater indicators for success in language learning. For example:
- Consistency. It’s not a sprint but a marathon. shorter everyday periods of learning are better than a large session that prevents you from learning in the upcoming days.
- Motivation. Having a good reason to pursue something will help you stick to it. Your goals are the foundation that your efforts stand on. Without them your motivation will falter and you will inevitably quit.
- Mindset. Be ready to learn and you will learn a lot. The importance of going into every session with a clear mindset for learning can not be understated. Mentally collecting yourself paves the way for fast progress and quick learning.
- Enjoyment. Enjoyment works hand-in-hand with motivation. These two will propel you to achievements you never thought were possible.
It is important to note that if you feel you do not possess these traits, they can be worked upon. You may not have them now but in due time, you will be the most consistent and motivated version of yourself. And most importantly, you’ll find enjoyment where there was not previously.
A brief overview
I won’t sugarcoat areas that need to stated with honesty.
Enjoyment: People are less inclined to do something if they don’t enjoy it even if it is beneficial for them. Think of exercise or eating your vegetables. We know it’s good for us but we can’t for the life of us stick to a workout plan or diet. It is far more beneficial to find exercise that you find entertaining and can stick with and a diet that you enjoy eating that is also healthy.