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Kem cho!
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That means “how are you?” in the Indian language Gujarati.
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I understand it fluently but I don't remember learning it at all.
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So what the heck happened?
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Hey guys what's up I'm Sapna here for DNews.
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Learning a second language is technically referred to as “second language acquisition”.
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That's because acquisition and learning are not quite the same.
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Acquiring a second language is a subconscious process but learning a second language is a conscious process based on formal instruction.
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Both are important.
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In 1967 linguist and neuroscientist Eric Lenneberg popularized the Critical Period Hypothesis.
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It's a theory that proposed the best age range to acquire a new language.
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Lenneberg said the critical period was age 2 to 13--that's around the age you reach puberty.
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Now, this age range is debated by language experts and today they prefer to call it the “sensitive period” instead of the “critical period.”
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That's because it's not so critical that you learn a language during that time period only, it's actually never too late!
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But research shows there are advantages to starting early and here's why:
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Kids brains are way better than adults when it comes to learning because of their plasticity--their brains are just better at creating new neural pathways.
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It does that through the creation of new synapse: the connective junctions where one neuron talks to another using electrical and chemical signals.
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Shortly after birth, synapses form at a rate that's faster than any other time period in our lives--it's known as the exuberant period where a young brain can create up to two million synapses every second.
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The number of synapses you have peaks between the ages of 4 to 8, but your brain still has a lot of plasticity until puberty.
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That is why exposure to language at an early age makes such a big difference.
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Now, although Lenneberg's Critical Period hypothesis states that that the ideal window to acquire language is age 2 to 13, synapses in the brain's cortex actually start forming much earlier than that, during the second trimester of pregnancy.
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And there's pretty convincing research that shows language development starts before a baby's even born, so it's probably never too soon for a pregnant mother to speak to her baby.
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And If you are past puberty, don't worry, it's not too late either.
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Yeah kids brains are more adaptable and better at making new brain connections but adult brains are better at focusing and better at complex thought processes.
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In fact, adults are faster at learning a new language.
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So although kids are better at subconsciously acquiring a language, adults may be better at conscious, systematic, learning.
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And your brain is not the only thing that matters.
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There are external factors like who's teaching you the language, and are you around native speakers of that language?
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And there are internal factors like personality.
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If you're outgoing you're more likely to practice and not be so afraid to make mistakes.
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And then there's motivation - if you enjoy learning a language or if you really want to communicate with a hot new boyfriend or girlfriend.
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It sounds cheesy but studies shows you'll be more successful!
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There is a catch to learning a language as adult.
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The research shows you're probably not gonna nail an authentic accent, no matter how hard you try, you're going to sound like a foreigner.
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But that's okay, because did you know that being bilingual could make you smarter?
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Trace and Alice explain in this video.
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Do you speak a second language?
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Or third or fourth?
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If so how did you learn it?
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And do you have any advice on what worked and what didn't?
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Tell us down in the comments section!
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Don't forget to Subscribe to DNews and thanks for watching!