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    • 2 min read

"Learn English in a natural way, like children do" *sigh*


The slide humorously depicts a baby exclaiming "I'm a f#cking genius," while a statue representing a facepalm reaction stands nearby, with a cat watching. This visual plays on the idea of misplaced confidence, contrasting the innocence and self-assurance of the baby with the exasperation of the statue.

Out of all the misinformation surrounding English learning, this one stands out because to many this can seem both exciting and reasonable. After all, who wouldn't want to soak up language like a sponge? Plus, children are technically human. (lol) So it seems to add up. 


But it's a hot steaming pile of bullshit. We adults learn languages differently.


The slide with a visual representation of the phrase "bullshit reason," depicting a bull alongside a poop emoji, used to humorously illustrate the idea that a bad or flimsy reason can be as effective as a good one in certain situations.

Kids and adults learn languages differently because of how our brains change as we grow.


Kids rely heavily on something called procedural memory—this helps them pick up language naturally.


Procedural memory helps us learn skills like riding a bike, tying your shoes, brushing your teeth —it’s about learning through doing.


This image shows a playful and family-oriented scene with a young boy tying his shoe, a dog holding a brush in its mouth, and a father helping his daughter ride a bicycle. The background is a pink wall, adding a warm and casual atmosphere to the scene. The image emphasizes the simplicity and joy of everyday moments, such as learning to ride a bike or taking care of small tasks with the support of loved ones, including pets.

Kids use this kind of memory to pick up language naturally through practice and repetition.


As we grow up, our brains start to rely more on declarative memory.


Declarative memory is all about facts and rules—it’s what we use to learn new vocabulary and grammar.


This shift in memory systems is one of the reasons why adults often find language learning more challenging.

This image presents a text quote from the book "Uncommon Sense Teaching." It discusses how as children grow older, their declarative memory systems improve while their procedural systems decline. The text suggests that while toddlers can intuitively handle complex grammar, teenagers can benefit from a teacher's guidance to learn a new language more effectively through declarative instruction combined with procedural practice, which involves active exercises. The background is pink with a soft, warm texture, and the quote is emphasized with blue and orange text.

Adults also face another challenge: interference from their native language(s).


By the time we're adults, our brains are wired with strong patterns from our first language.


These patterns can interfere with learning new sounds, grammar structures, and even meanings.


For example, we automatically translate new words into our native language for a while.


The image shows a translation of the phrase "Why the fuck is learning a language so hard" from English to Spanish using a translation tool. The translated phrase in Spanish reads "¿Por qué carajo es tan difícil aprender un idioma?" The background is pink with a soft texture. The image emphasizes the frustration often felt when learning a new language, reflected in both the English and Spanish phrases.

This translation habit is a natural part of how adults process new information. It’s normal, but sadly, it does slow us down and makes learning feel less intuitive.


With enough practice, adults start to think directly in the new language, bypassing the need for translation.


Kids, on the other hand, don’t have these ingrained patterns, so they learn through immersion without translating.


The image features a young child flexing their muscles with a confident expression. Behind the child are two large, white, stylized brain outlines, emphasizing the idea of mental strength or intelligence. The background is pink with a textured surface, adding a playful and positive feel to the image. This visual likely represents the concept of children having strong and adaptable minds.

Are you doomed?


Let’s take a look at the let’s-prove-that-you-are-not-a-kid kit below. Recognize any of these?


The image shows a collection of retro technology items against a pink, textured background. On the left is a tangled cassette tape, followed by a bright pink rotary dial telephone, and on the right is an old, beige computer with a large, boxy monitor and keyboard. This visual likely represents outdated technology from the past, possibly used to illustrate changes over time or the evolution of technology.

Now that we’ve established that you’re not a kid, embrace your adult brain, put in the work and reap the rewards.


Teacher Tina from SpeakEnglish2day.com

Tina is a professional English Teacher with a Cambridge education and 10+ years of teaching English to adults in-person and online.


She wants you and English learners like you to develop a solid understanding of what you need to do to start speaking better English faster (and not fall for English-in-a-month scams).

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