Learning as adult or as a child

My parents could speak Polish and Ukrainian. I was only taught English, as in the 1960s it was important in America to learn English and fit in. I often have regretted not learning at least one of these languages. However, the reality is every one of my parent’s five children did well in their lives, as we were focused on other things than Polish or Ukrainian. After working many years in business in the USA, I moved to Poland and learned Polish. The process was painful as an adult. However, the truth is it, it was also fun. If you learn a language as a child, you do not appreciate it as much than if you learn it as an adult. Learning as an adult is a personal growth experience. Learning a language is about being humble and not being afraid to make mistakes, sounding funny and thinking you know everything. I still have a lot to learn in Polish. But learning a language is a process. Try not to think of learning a language like, ‘I know it or I do not’. For example, if you speak 100 words in Polish you speak it, your goal is just to improve it. I am still learning my native language English also for that matter, as all the time I pick up new phrases and words. In conclusion, learning as a child is optimal from the perspective that its less painful, but learning a language as an adult is guaranteed to change your life. It did for me. I am living in Europe and experiencing things most people only dream about.

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