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I learned how to read and write in my native language in 2 weeks at age 6, when I learned half of alphabet, because I figured out rest of alphabet on my own. I'

I learned how to read and write in my native language in 2 weeks at age 6, when I learned half of alphabet, because I figured out rest of alphabet on my own. I'm reading non-stop since then. How much it takes to learn how to properly read, write, listen, and speak in English? It took me about 20 years in total, but I still cannot talk properly.

psunavy03 3y ago
Languages are more easily absorbed in childhood due to brain development. It's biologically harder to learn a language as an adult, because that part of your brain is more fully developed. Doable, just harder.
hashmush 3y ago
But at age 6 you've already been immersed in the language for 6 years. The problem there is to link it to its written form. When you learn a second language you have the baggage of the first language hindering you (talking about orthography here), and you normally don't start by speaking the language exclusively for 6 years before learning how to read. If you don't know what the language is supposed to sound like, of course it's hard to understand how to read in it.
stevekemp 3y ago
Much harder. I listen to my six year old boy read Finnish and English. Finnish is trivial, the pronunciation follows the spelling. English? A word like "night" turns into "nig-hut" which kinda makes sense, but is also completely wrong. There are so many times when I have to say "No, actually you say XXX". Speaking is fine, mostly. Though there were a few *years* where I had to say "Mommy is a woman, so you say 'she' not 'he'." as Finnish doesn't have gendered pronouns. "Your friend is a girl so you say 'her ball', not 'his ball'". That took a long time to sink in, even though he was fine when people spoke to him he'd almost always get it wrong when women/girls were involved - and even Finnish adults make those kind of mistakes quite often. ("I have a girlfriend, his name is Sally".)

psunavy03 3y ago

Languages are more easily absorbed in childhood due to brain development. It's biologically harder to learn a language as an adult, because that part of your brain is more fully developed. Doable, just harder.

hashmush 3y ago

But at age 6 you've already been immersed in the language for 6 years. The problem there is to link it to its written form. When you learn a second language you have the baggage of the first language hindering you (talking about orthography here), and you normally don't start by speaking the language exclusively for 6 years before learning how to read. If you don't know what the language is supposed to sound like, of course it's hard to understand how to read in it.

stevekemp 3y ago

Much harder. I listen to my six year old boy read Finnish and English. Finnish is trivial, the pronunciation follows the spelling. English? A word like "night" turns into "nig-hut" which kinda makes sense, but is also completely wrong. There are so many times when I have to say "No, actually you say XXX". Speaking is fine, mostly. Though there were a few *years* where I had to say "Mommy is a woman, so you say 'she' not 'he'." as Finnish doesn't have gendered pronouns. "Your friend is a girl so you say 'her ball', not 'his ball'". That took a long time to sink in, even though he was fine when people spoke to him he'd almost always get it wrong when women/girls were involved - and even Finnish adults make those kind of mistakes quite often. ("I have a girlfriend, his name is Sally".)