Do adolescents learn in ways distinct from adults? How long will it take a teenager to learn German? So many factors affect it; let’s find out!
Can a teenager learn German faster?
We have a tendency to underestimate the abilities of children and teenagers at times. Consider a five-year-old child. They already have a large vocabulary in their native language without having to learn or read.
Consider how many words an adolescent understands in their native language. A perfect pronunciation should be included.
Language acquisition refers to this type of organic learning that occurs during childhood.
Adults find it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to learn a foreign language and sound like native speakers. This learning process is also known as second-language acquisition.
As a result, learning a foreign language will become easier for you as you get older. In general, a teen can easily learn German.
Can a teenager become fluent in German?
It depends. It depends on the person, their proficiency level, and their aptitude for learning languages. It also depends on how much time they spend studying German as well as practicing speaking it in your home or at school.
You can also add reading and writing into this equation if you want to include those aspects of learning German with your teenager’s skillset (although we don’t recommend it).
Finally, keep in mind that everyone learns differently—some people are natural linguists who prefer listening over speaking; others may have trouble understanding complex sentences due to a lack of vocabulary knowledge early on in life; still, others may struggle with grammar rules because they don’t have enough exposure yet!
Language learning is a highly personalized process. A variety of factors influence German proficiency, including:
- Your age
- Your native language
- Any other language/s you speak
- Your personality
- Your motivation
- Your dedication
- Your availability
- The setting/environment
Age is one of the determinants, as you can see above. This proves that a teenager can learn German fluently, but only if other requirements are satisfied.
How long will it take a teenager to learn German?
Because this is a very subjective question, we are unable to provide you with a specific answer. You must consider the adolescent’s unique circumstances.
Compare the three children below in various scenarios to see who will learn the fastest:
- Anna is a 15-year-old native German speaker who does not speak any other languages but enjoys talking a lot; she is unmotivated but devoted; she lives in German; she attends school and studies German.
- John, a 13-year-old native English speaker, also speaks French fluently. He is also outgoing, driven, and dedicated. John has recently relocated to Germany.
John is likely to pick up on things quickly. Why? Despite his youth, he speaks two languages fluently, one of which is French, a Romance language (like German).
He also has a lot of spare time, is very motivated, and is very dedicated. Germans surround him as well. He won’t need more than a few months to become fluent in German, so the time frame will most likely be between six months and a year.
Who do you think will learn German more slowly? Analyze both situations and support your position with solid justifications.
It can be intimidating to learn a new language, but it is much easier than you think. In fact, there are numerous online resources that will help you become fluent in German in no time!