Can I learn a new language at 17?
Emily Ross
Published Jan 17, 2026
They concluded that the ability to learn a new language, at least grammatically, is strongest until the age of 18 after which there is a precipitous decline. To become completely fluent, however, learning should start before the age of 10.
Can you learn a language at 17?
A new study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology suggests that children remain skilled at learning the grammar of a new language up to the age of 17 or 18, the time at which many students graduate high school.
Can I learn a language as a teenager?
While there's a myth that little kids have the easiest time learning new languages, according to Dr. Elizabeth Bernhardt, director of Stanford Language Center and professor of German at Stanford University, teens can rapidly pick up a new language between the ages of 13 and 17.
Can you learn a language at 16?
My empirical conclusion is that you can learn a language at any age. You may not reach the level of a native speaker but you'll be able to communicate efficiently and you'll derive great pleasure from this additional skill.
What is the cutoff age for learning a language?
"And it's good news; rather than the onset of puberty, the study suggests that language-learning abilities remain intact until about the age of 17 or 18.
26 related questions foundWhat language is easiest to learn?
And The Easiest Language To Learn Is…
- Norwegian. This may come as a surprise, but we have ranked Norwegian as the easiest language to learn for English speakers. ...
- Swedish. ...
- Spanish. ...
- Dutch. ...
- Portuguese. ...
- Indonesian. ...
- Italian. ...
- French.
Which language is the hardest to learn?
1. Mandarin Chinese. Interestingly, the hardest language to learn is also the most widely spoken native language in the world. Mandarin Chinese is challenging for a number of reasons.
Is learning Korean hard?
Although Korean might be ranked as one of the more difficult languages to learn by the Foreign Service Institute (FSI), it is by no means impossible. So don't worry about the “hours” it takes to learn Korean.
At what age does it become harder to learn?
It initially becomes harder to learn around the age of 12 because the chemicals in your brain change during puberty. Around the age of 25, your brain patterns solidify, and they will become harder to change. You can still learn new things when you're older, but it might take some extra effort.
What are the hardest languages to learn ranked?
Without further ado, these are our top ten hardest (but most rewarding) languages to learn.
- Mandarin. Mandarin is a language within the Chinese language group and is actually the most spoken language in the world. ...
- Arabic. ...
- 3. Japanese. ...
- Hungarian. ...
- Korean. ...
- Finnish. ...
- Basque. ...
- Navajo.
What is the best language to learn?
The Most Important Languages To Learn In 2021
- Mandarin Chinese. With over one billion Mandarin Chinese speakers in the world, of course it tops the list of most important languages to learn in 2021. ...
- Spanish. ...
- German. ...
- French. ...
- Arabic. ...
- Russian. ...
- Portuguese. ...
- 8. Japanese.
Is it hard to learn a new language?
But, why is it so hard to learn a foreign language, anyway? Put simply, it's hard because it challenges both your mind (your brain has to construct new cognitive frameworks) and time (it requires sustained, consistent practice).
Is it too late to learn a language?
Many people believe that you lose the ability to learn new languages as you get older. Language experts, however, will tell you that you're never too old to learn a new language. As you get older, it can be more difficult to learn a new language, though. Children and adults learn new languages in different ways.
Can you become bilingual at 18?
Can one become bilingual later on? There is no upper age limit for acquiring a new language and then continuing one's life with two or more languages. Nor is there any limit in the fluency that one can attain in the new language with the exception of pronunciation skills.
Is Japanese hard to learn?
Japanese is ranked by the U.S. Foreign Services Institute as the most difficult language for native English speakers to learn. The institute uses the time it takes to learn a language to determine its difficulty 23-24 weeks for the easiest and 88 weeks for the hardest.
Does duolingo really work?
Duolingo is not a stand-alone language course, but it's an excellent addition to a language learner's toolbox. It's easy to use, it's fun and it works. Don't forget to do the homework, though. If your aim is to achieve real fluency, remember to read, speak, and truly live the language that you're learning!
What age is smartest?
Neuroscientists find that different parts of the brain work best at different ages. Scientists have long known that our ability to think quickly and recall information, also known as fluid intelligence, peaks around age 20 and then begins a slow decline.
At what age is your brain the sharpest?
What age is your mind the sharpest? The human brain attains peak processing power and memory around age 18. After studying how intelligence changes over time, scientists found that participants in their late teens had the highest performance.
How many languages can you learn?
But apart from these exceptional cases, the limit seems to be much lower. According to linguists, a year of regular learning is necessary to master the basics of a language. Then, you will have to maintain that initial learning. As a result, a normal human being can assimilate 10 languages in his life.
What languages can BTS speak?
Aside from speaking and understanding English and Japanese, a few members of BTS can speak Mandarin, a formal language spoken in China. That includes Jin and J-Hope, who, according to popbuzz.com, are pretty fluent in the language.
How do you say hi in Korean?
To get you started though, here's a quick list of Korean greetings:
- “Hello” (polite): 안녕하세요 (annyeong haseyo)
- “Hi” / “Hello” (casual): 안녕 (annyeong)
- “Good day” / “Hello” (formal): 녕하십니까 (annyeong hasimnikka)
- “Hello” when answering the phone: 여보세요 (yeoboseyo)
- “Good morning”: 좋은아침이에요 (joeun achimieyo)
What's harder to learn Japanese or Korean?
Japanese has 46 letters in its alphabet.
Meanwhile, Korean only has 24. If you're looking for which is easier to learn between Korean or Japanese, Korean wins this round too.
Can you learn 2 languages at once?
Answer: Thankfully, your brain can definitely handle learning two (or more!) languages at once! (Two down, 6,998 to go.) But there are also some ways you can make this linguistic task easier on yourself.
Is Spanish easy to learn?
No matter what your mother tongue is, Spanish is generally one of the easiest languages to learn, as it shares some unexpected similarities with many languages. Of course, Spanish still has challenges that may be different for speakers of different languages.
What is the oldest language in the world?
World's oldest language is Sanskrit. The Sanskrit language is called Devbhasha. All European languages seem inspired by Sanskrit. All the universities and educational institutions spread across the world consider Sanskrit as the most ancient language.