Know that every time you manage to learn a new word, or manage to get your message across in the language you are learning and you are improving.
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Learning A New Language? Your Mindset Matters More Than 'Having A Knack'

2025-02-11 10:12:46

(MENAFN- The Conversation) If you stumble when you need to talk to someone in a language that isn't your native language, do you think:“I just don't have the knack for languages” or“Maybe I am not cut out to learn another language?”

Learning and using a language other than your mother tongue can be a daunting challenge. The good news is that everyone is smart enough to learn another language . An important part of that process is developing a mindset that will help you to succeed.

What is a language mindset?

We study people's motivation to learn new languages from the perspective of language mindset theory. Language mindset theory shows that what people believe about aptitude has a role to play in language learning .

This theory concerns learners' beliefs about whether they can change their aptitude for learning and using languages, and how different beliefs are associated with different outcomes, including language proficiency.

If learners think they can improve their ability when learning something hard about a new language, or when they didn't do well in certain aspects of language learning , they won't be scared off by thinking that their current level of ability is low.

Learners may even feel that these difficulties or failures are chances to learn something new and to improve their language ability. They remain hopeful and confident about what they can potentially achieve in language learning. They focus on what they can do to improve their language skills through the learning process, rather than merely surviving the interaction, getting a good grade or doing better than other people.

A growth or a fixed mindset

Language mindset theory - pertaining to learners' beliefs about their aptitude for learning and using languages - can be differentiated into three types of views:

General language intelligence about whether a person believes they can change their ability to use spoken and written language to express themselves and communicate with others;

Beliefs about their aptitude for learning a new language;

Beliefs regarding whether their ability to learn a new language is in any way related to age.

If a person thinks these three types of language aptitude are something they're born with and cannot change, they could be classified as a learner with a fixed mindset.

If they feel they can improve one or more of these aspects of language aptitude, and especially second-language aptitude, they could be characterized as a growth-mindset learner. Ultimately, learners with a growth mindset are likely to become more proficient in the language they are learning than a person with a fixed mindset .

Our research shows that about 20 per cent of language learners have a growth mindset, another 20 per cent have a fixed mindset and the majority (60 per cent) have a mixed mindset.

Language mindset relates to beliefs about general language intelligence, second language aptitude and thoughts about timing and a person's age. (Nigel Mantou Lou and Kimberly A. Noels) How teachers can help

Although people are increasingly using digital apps like Duolingo, language courses remain a common way for people to learn languages - and language teachers can help learners develop a growth mindset.

Teachers have a role promoting having a growth mindset. (Shutterstock)

Teachers can help by reminding learners that they can improve their language intelligence through their efforts. For low-stakes assignments and tests, teachers can encourage learners to take risks and attempt new challenges and use these moments as an opportunity to learn something new.

Teachers should also provide feedback that focuses on the learning process ; for example, what types of learning strategies learners could use, whether they need to work harder and what resources could be helpful for their language learning.

In this way, teachers convey an important message that it's OK to make mistakes, and what learners do in the learning process matters more than how proficient they currently are. Even when learners are faced with high-stakes exams, teachers can still help learners connect the content of the exams to using the language in real-life communication.

If teachers can create a classroom environment that fosters a growth language mindset, learners are more likely to continue learning the language.

Mindset can shift, aptitude can grow

If you are a language learner who finds yourself thinking that your language aptitude is fixed, it's never too late to change your belief .

Every time you master a new word, or acquire a new aspect of grammar or even just manage to get your message across to another person in the language you are learning, you are improving.

If you are having a hard time learning a certain aspect of the language, try using a different learning strategy , finding resources that can help you or simply giving yourself more time to practice. Remember, everyone is smart enough to learn a new language.

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