When it comes to learning a new language, many people find it frustrating. As if when you are walking with your hands versus your feet, you can’t walk fast, you can’t walk steadily, sometimes you can’t even stand up on your own, because you are rewiring your brain and forcing different muscles to do something differently.
I always assume that all people are equally capable to acquire a language. Take a look at how well and fast a baby can learn to speak the first language just by listening and mimicking. However, my own experience tells me that it’s not true. I started learning English since I was 4. Not to mention about the accuracy of grammar, until today I have difficulties in pronouncing some sounds correctly like “th”, “own/oun”, “g”, etc.
Research shows that people start learning a second language late in life is less likely to acquire a native-like accent. When a baby begins to learn a first language, his/her brain (neurons) started formulating certain patterns to recognize different sounds. However, the brain becomes fixed during puberty and loses the adaptability to re-structure for a new language after a certain age. This explains why it is so hard for me to pronounce the “oun” sound, because my brain has been programmed to function for Cantonese, which is my mother language, as early as I was an infant. Cantonese doesn’t distinguish the “oun” sound; therefore it is hard for me to say it right.
Given the fact that the neurons of our brains are basically programmed for the first language we learned, does that mean we can never achieve fluency of a foreign language? For that question I have done some research on the internet. Then I found out that a Language is produced by the Sound Generator (vocal chords) and Sound Chambers (throat, nose cavity, and mouth). For example, “bounce” is a hard word for me. If I want to say it right, I need to know the phonics of the letters and how to use different chambers to generate the sound. Let’s try to say “b-oun-ce”, first use the lips and the throat to generate the “b”, then utter the “oun” by using the soft palate and the nose, at last finish the sound by using the teeth and the tongue.
But knowing how to produce sounds is not good enough. In addition to pronunciation, a language is also composed by words, which are like symbols, and grammar, which is like formulas. Given the conflict with your mother language, acquiring a foreign language is pretty much rewiring your neurons and using your muscles differently. It would be as hard as walking with your hands and typing with your feet.
If learning a second language is hand walking, then living in a foreign country is running a marathon with your hands. I have a co-worker who migrated from Hong Kong to the States 6 years ago, but she is still hanging out with Chinese people and reluctant to make friends with Americans until now. Many more examples can be found when you go to the China towns in America. Many young people have chosen to limit themselves in Chinese groups rather than embrace American culture. I don’t blame them, as living in a foreign country can be stressful, especially during this economic downturn. The competition of the job market is extremely fierce, as if there is no room for non-native English speakers at all.
Practice makes perfect. Some people argue that a fluent level of foreign language can be achieved after years of practicing regardless of age. In fact many people master multi-languages and work across different countries successfully. Maybe some people are cut out for acquiring languages. Maybe how well you can acquire a new language depends on to what extent you can rewire your brain.
I don’t know how far I can go walking with my hands, but I do know that I have to be at least 100% dedicated in order to move forward.
