Is it possible to learn Japanese at the age of 40 or above?
Have you ever heard the ‘too old to learn’ reason to learn a new language or the doubt many have if they could learn a new language or a new skill as they are out of college or when they grow old? Well, this is a very common question many have when they want or start learning a new language and it is the same with Japanese as well.
When compared to a student in high school or college, a person who is over 40 may have more responsibilities and less time that he/she can dedicate to learn a new language. However, this does not mean that it is not possible to learn the language.
It takes a strong reason, motivation, a learning attitude and an understanding about the level of proficiency that you want to reach in the language to learn Japanese.
Let us look at the number of hours it takes to learn Japanese as per the Foreign standard Institute.
The foreign service institute (FSI) has categorised languages into various levels according to difficulty level for an English speaker.
The Japanese language has been placed in category V which is considered to be significantly difficult for native English speakers. The time it takes according to the FSI ranking is 2200 hours or 88 weeks.
However, this can again be very relative. Apart from the native language, there are many other factors that would govern the time it takes for someone to learn Japanese especially if you are over 40.
Your experience with other languages
If you are bilingual or multilingual and have learnt other languages in the past, you already have a clear understanding of what works for you when it comes to learning a new language. Thus, you can accordingly plan your learning schedule and activity to get the best learning experience.
Though Japanese is considered to be a language isolate, if you have learnt other Asian languages you might find it easier to learn Japanese.
Your learning resources
Learning resources make a huge impact on how fast you learn a new language. Some people are comfortable learning on their own whereas others find learning from a teacher very helpful.
You can choose to learn from websites, YouTube videos, audio podcasts, books or from language learning platforms that offer direct classes with teachers depending on your style of learning.
The time you invest in learning and practising Japanese
This is another important factor that can fasten or slow down your Japanese learning. The time it takes to pick up Japanese would considerably depend on whether you are spending five hours a day or half an hour a day to learn and practice the language.
What can you do to learn Japanese in a short span of time?
Start with a goal
Decide what level you would like to be in the Japanese language. As a newbie, you can decide to learn the basics of the language or might want to be at the next level from where you are. Fix a deadline by which you would like to achieve this. A goal with a deadline prompts you to find ways and means to achieve it.
Supplement your learning in other ways
You can watch Japanese movies or videos or read simple yet interesting Japanese content in your free time to improve your reading and listening skills which are important aspects of learning a language.
Speak as much as possible
Don’t let your fear of making mistakes or being mocked stop you from speaking Japanese. you become better and comfortable with a language only when you practice it. Most native speakers usually appreciate it when someone makes an effort to learn their language and even help you with it.
Your age, whether over 40 or not, need not decide how long it would take to learn Japanese.
Yes, as someone over 40 you may have less time to practice when compared to someone at the age of 5, 10 or 15 but that need not be a deciding factor in the time it would take for you to learn Japanese.
It is your reason to learn Japanese, your enthusiasm, commitment, dedication and consistent effort that would decide the time it takes for you to learn Japanese.
Also, your age can even be an advantage as you are well aware about the technological advancements and various options open to you for learning Japanese. You can organize your learning well as you are experienced with organizing many other things in your life by this age.
If you would like to fast pace your learning, you can book a free demo session with Multibhashi for a Japanese language class.
