Can I learn a language at the speed of a baby?

You can listen to me reading this blog post below.

I am currently learning Portuguese as an adult, and it’s not been easy. It isn’t my first step into language learning in my life. Previous attempts took place when I was a student at school and university, and during classes I took at various points in my life.

Some time ago, I listened to a podcast where the host reiterated that language is learned one word at a time, slowly, and it shocked me to my core!! How could that be true? I ran to my sister - a school teacher - for reassurance that wasn’t true. You mean I couldn’t just suddenly become fluent? Hearing that actually discouraged me from language learning for a while, until my niece was born a few years ago. My sister and I continued to revisit that conversation over time, as she taught my niece baby sign language, as my niece tried out her first new words, and as her vocabulary grew. Now she talks non-stop, and recites amazing poetry, and I still struggle to put together a sentence in Portuguese, so I’ve definitely fallen behind again again.

My sister and I came up with this theory that we could learn language at the speed of a baby. And while I wasn’t able to keep up with my niece, a new nephew was born last April and the clock has started again. So here are a few things I learned when observing my niece carefully to see what she could teach me about language learning.

Language is about connection.

Before my niece learned to speak, my sister taught her baby sign language. She learned simple signs such as food (the sign she used the most) but also signs such as bird (her favourite past time was bird watching! She really had an eye for it!!) She was as likely to tell my sister she was hungry as she was to tell her that she saw a bird - taking my sister by the hand to tug her outside to watch the birds with her.

It showed me that first and foremostly - language is about communicating and connecting. As a writer and someone who loves language, I have been moved to tears by simple stories and a well written paragraph, and when I think about being able to speak another language, I think about being able to speak it as well as I speak English, and to understand the beauty of it as well. And that may come. But first - I need to bring myself back to basics and remember that language is about connection. If I focus on that, I’ll begin to connect much sooner, and that may actually allow me to make more rapid progress than sitting hunched over duolingo - practising until I have the perfect sentence.

Try things out!

My niece used to mimick her parents and her aunt and cousin. When they made noises, she would make the same noise. It was funny watching her growl when my sister growled, or sigh when her aunt sighed. I asked my sister - how does she know how to make those sounds, and she told me - she tries them out. Babies can be found making random sounds, yelling, and babbling. Trying things out. I imagine what might be going through her mind. When I do this with my mouth then that sound comes out, and it sounds like the one mummy made! Interesting.

Now - I am not sure that my niece had an inner monologue at 14 months old (although I am pretty sure she has one now!) But it reminded me that before babies talk, they try things out. Sounds, words in any order, and one word commands combined with noises (woof woof for when she sees a dog). Children are willing to make mistakes and try things out before they have that concept of right or wrong, and I need to remember that when I am practicing my language. 

Become immersed.

I had always heard about becoming immersed in a language, and I wasn’t sure I believed in it. I lived in Tanzania for several months, and it was the closest thing to immersion I had ever come to - working in a practice with staff and patients who mostly spoke Swahili. I thought I’d leave Tanzania fluent, but that wasn’t the case (unsurprisingly). But now, my understanding of immersion is different. It isn’t about being able to understand every word.

I know that my niece listened and still listens to us talking, and still doesn’t understand every word, but she developed an ear for the language. For the intonation and what it means. She knows if we are angry or happy I am sure - even if she doesn’t understand or know why. And it may be a few years before she understands all of what we say. I have been thinking about immersion again recently as I have entered academia after years in clinical practice.

Sometimes those around me sound as if they are speaking a different language as I am sure they feel when they wander onto the dental clinic. But I think now that immersion is more about getting your ear in tune to a language, and maybe even picking out the one or two words that you understand. So I have decided to tune into a Portuguese radio podcast, to see if I can get my ear used to the sound of the language.

Celebrating!

I know that my niece sometimes will always get frustrated when we don’t understand her. Even now her ideas are sometimes bigger than her vocabulary. But right now, she just seems pleased with herself when she says a word that she has been trying out for a while, and we are all pleased and excited as well! I remember when my nephew was younger and he would talk to us. Soon he was good enough to say “you aren’t listening!” and get frustrated when we didn’t understand. But for the most part, he sought to be understood, and we sought to understand and he was content.

For me, I need to try to take some of the contentment that comes with being understood. My standard for my Portuguese is high - because I am a fortysomething year old woman who is used to being understood and explaining complex concepts. Maybe if I just celebrated when I figured out how to ask for chocolate, or made a joke - would have been a better approach than being annoyed that I couldn’t write this blog post in Portuguese! I need to take that celebratory attitude that my niece has on board, and celebrate myself in the same way that we celebrate her.

I love learning. And I love that I can learn as much from my little niece as I can at university (and some days more - let’s face it!). I will continue to learn language at the speed of a baby, and try to have as much fun as she seems to be having, and try to keep up with this new baby!

What’s something you learned in an unexpected place or from someone unexpected?

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