Why Learning A Language In Your 30s Is The Perfect Time

If you are hesitant to learn a language or studying overseas because you think it is something only people in their late teens or early 20s do, you should think again. Just ask Steve Kaufmann – LingQ’s in-house polyglot. The man is in his 70s and learns languages like they’re going out of style. Still not convinced? Check out what other polyglots have to say about learning languages well into adulthood. If you are in your 30s, you are still young and apparently more and more adults all over the world are taking up the trend of learning languages for a number of different reasons.
 
Travelling has never been easier, there’s the Internet where we converse with people from all over the planet, and where more and more opportunities for independent learning are becoming available. Furthermore most businesses are becoming increasingly international and multilingual, and it is hugely important to create networks on a global scale in today’s labor market.

Better Late Than Never

You didn’t learn French, Spanish, or Chinese as a child, so what? There is no reason to sit in a corner and sulk about it. If you still want to learn a language, whatever it may be, then there is nothing stopping you from starting today. Make your decision and stick with it. You can’t change the past no matter how much you try.
Now that you are all grown up, you must have noticed all the benefits of being able to speak multiple languages. Maybe you have met other people who are able to and wished that you could do the same – and there is no reason why you can’t.
 
Both in business as well as in travel, being able to speak a foreign language is considered an asset. People who can speak foreign languages are more appreciated in their jobs, and they can communicate with the people in the countries they are visiting, whether there for business or pleasure. If that isn’t enough of a draw, how about being able to read literature or watch movies in a different language sans subtitles?
 

You’re The King Of Your Cash

Hopefully, in your 30s you are in control of your finances. Learning a language abroad with complete immersion is no more expensive than any old vacation and offers a very valuable experience that will stay with you for a lifetime.
 
You have the choice of spending money on material things or fun experiences – I bet you already know which one of those things will make you happier.
Perhaps you have an idea of what you want in life, maybe not, but learning a new language is never a disadvantage and it is always exciting to venture out into the world to discover new and exciting cultures and people.
 
Also, if you are in your 30s and still not weighed down by heavy commitments such as marriage, kids, mortgages and all that other “fun” stuff then now is the perfect time to travel. A lot of us do all those things a little later nowadays – 30 is the new 20 is a cliche, but it’s kind of true.

Learning a Language in your 30s is an investment in your future

Once you learn a language, it is your skill and you get to keep it for the rest of your life. You may have more career opportunities open to you, and your vacations will be way more enjoyable when you can communicate in multiple languages. Widening your network is also so much easier when you can speak to people in their own language.
Just because your days at high school are long gone, doesn’t mean you have to stop learning. You can and should learn your entire life. You may never want to set foot in a classroom again, and you don’t have to with all the apps and online resources that are available these days.
 
Learning a language in your 30s is different; it is something that you can benefit from every day. If you feel like you need to kick start your brain, learning a language may be just what you need.
 

Some Things Are Actually Easier

Believe it or not, older language students actually have many advantages, one of them being that they themselves have decided that they want to study, whereas younger students often do it because they are told to.
 
Some parts of language learning become more difficult with age, such as pronunciation and accent, others get easier. The older you get the larger your vocabulary is, so chances are that your vocabulary will be as large as a native speaker. Since you already know so many words, new words can be easily added to your pre-existing knowledge.
That’s why websites and apps such as LingQ work better when you are an independent adult learner, as it’s all about input. Picking up a new vocabulary is much easier for you than learning grammar rules or syntax.
 

No Time For Regrets

Last but not least, you are better off learning a new language now, than thinking you are too old and never learning one at all. Bill Gates was once asked if he had any regrets in life – despite being hugely successful – and to a lot of people’s surprise his biggest regret was not learning a foreign language (he wanted to learn French). Nothing stops him from doing it now, of course, even though it’s been awhile since he was in his 30s.
 
The point is no matter your age, you never know what the future has in store for you, so make the most of your 30s and do something to improve your life today!
 
It is never too late to learn, so maybe I’ll take this up again in my 40s, 50s, 60s, and beyond.
 

Use Content You Love

Whether you’re learning German, Japanese, or Italian, I recommend reading content you enjoy rather than strictly studying textbooks and trying to remember the rules. You’re already learning a new language, remembering rules on top of that is going to be…tough. And regardless of how well you try to remember each rule, you’re still going to make mistakes! So why not learn using content you enjoy? The more you read, the more you’ll start to recognize patterns and how the language works 🙂
 
LingQ has thousands of hours of content for you to read and listen to, from beginner material to advanced.
 

 
Not only that, but you can also import your favorite content into LingQ and create interactive lessons. For example, you can import YouTube videos, music, video, and much more.
 
Using LingQ, you can keep all your favorite content stored in one platform, easily look up new words, save vocabulary, and review them for later.
 

Last but not least, LingQ is available for both Android and iOS so you can study anytime, anywhere. Give it a try today and join tens of thousands of other language learners and discover new content, share ideas, and much more.