Is it possible to learn Russian after 40?

There is no age limit to learning anything new and language is no exception. Whether you are six, eighteen or forty, learning has no age bar and yes, you can definitely learn Russian.

The unknown terrain of a new language could be a factor that is stopping you from taking that step to learn Russian. Also, in your forties or a later age, you probably think that you are too busy, too old, or have other important things to do. However, if you are able to find a reason and good resources that can help you achieve the feat of learning Russian, you can definitely do so.

When in school, students might have to choose a foreign language as a part of their curriculum. The decision to learn Russian could be personal or influenced by parents or guardians. However, as a grown-up adult, it is completely your decision. Hence, it becomes very easy to find your reason to learn the language. It could be a career progression, traveling to Russia, you have a Russian partner with whom you would like to converse or you just want to read the classics of Tolstoy, Pushkin, or Chekhov in the original.

As an adult, you can combine different learning resources and also use some tricks that can help you learn the language quickly. Though in school we start with reading, writing, and speaking, as an adult you can try to speak first and then learn reading and writing depending on what proficiency level you are planning to achieve. If your primary purpose is to hold a meaningful conversation you can start by learning some phrases, words or sentences which will help you learn the language in a more practical manner.

If you are a native English speaker or know any other Slavic language, you can make good use of things which are common or relatable to these languages. Contrarily, if you find something very different from your native language, you can use that as a trick to remember Russian.

To be able to learn Russian it is important to dedicate enough time for learning and if you think you are pressed for time due to the professional commitments that you have, try to find ways that can help you include Russian as a way of life.

To begin with, you can hire a tutor or join an online class where you can learn Russian in a systematic manner from the comfort of your own space at your own pace.

The time that you spend to entertain yourself or relax can be used to learn Russian. No, you don’t have to study all the time. What you can do is watch movies, listen to music or even listen to your favorite podcast in Russian. This will help you get used to the language and understand how sentences are formed grammatically. Also, you can convert your otherwise unproductive time into passive learning time.

Learning a new language can be very exercising for your brain. It can help you improve your cognitive abilities and stay active mentally. These reasons are good enough to learn Russian after forty as you almost settle down in a comfort zone and learning a new language can be a challenging yet rewarding task.

If you are still wondering whether it is possible to learn Russian after forty, well if you have a strong will and the right resources, nothing is impossible at any age.