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Psychology
Is Learning A Second Language in Your 30’s Hopeless?
I have studied Italian for 1–2 hours each day this year. I’ve completed all of Duolingo, homework, speaking practice, movies, and books. It’s starting to feel hopeless as it doesn't seem like I am anywhere near fluency.
It’s very frustrating because learning a second language is on my bucket list and I’ve studied each day until my brain hurt. Is it still possible? The more I think about it, maybe not. A lot of it just seems to go in one ear and out the other no matter how much I try.
I usually finish Duolingo or homework with little to no errors, but ask me later, and it’s like I can barely remember any of it. I watch movies or listen to music and can usually understand some of the words, but without being able to understand it all, what use is it?
When I am by myself, I can often put together sentences, but when I went to the Italian deli to practice with the owner, I was a stuttering mess.
I think it may be too late. The people I know who speak a second language are foreigners or learned growing up. The other people on Duolingo or trying to learn now seem pretty much in the same boat as me.
