The adventure of learning a new language at (almost) 40
Have you heard the saying that you cannot learn a new language – or that it is extremely hard to do so – once you’re an adult?
I always assumed that was because learning a new language is simply harder as an adult. I thought it came down to human capability: that the adult brain can no longer absorb something as complex as a new language.
But I was wrong.
It’s not about what a person can or cannot do.
It’s about circumstances and surroundings.
Anyone can learn a language – to any level, including highly technical jargon – when they are immersed in that world, that topic, every single day. I’m not saying it’s easy. I’m saying that circumstance is what makes or breaks how fluent someone can become.
I live in a multilingual household. We speak English, Dutch, and German all the time. We don’t speak “D-English.” We simply use different languages to communicate with different people within our household. While that may sound intense to some, it’s easy for us – we’re used to it.
At home, I’m perfectly fluent in all three languages at the level of our kids. I know the words, the phrases, and I understand everything. I can respond without thinking. Officially, I have a theoretical B2.1 level in Dutch.
I say theoretical because although I hold that level on paper, I don’t yet feel I’ve reached the natural ease that comes with speaking Dutch outside the home. I completed my classes while we were still living in Germany, which limited daily immersion.
We moved to the Netherlands a month ago, and I’m slowly expanding my speaking abilities. I speak Dutch in shops, at the Gemeente, and at the KVK.
These situations are manageable. I’ve learned that people only switch to English when I’m wearing my bike helmet (no joke); otherwise, they usually stick to Dutch for the entire conversation. At this point, I speak better Dutch than I did when I first started learning German or English. And from what I remember, learning those languages wasn’t a natural process either – there was one significant difference: my surroundings.
Back then, I was in school and later at university. I had to attend lectures, take exams, write essays, and do everything that comes with being a student. It took a few months, but after those few months, I was achieving the highest grades possible.
This year, I’m starting a new and exciting (and challenging) quest: making the Netherlands my home – and working in Dutch as well. I’m looking for projects! The Dutcher, the better – pun intended :)
