Teaching Old Dogs New Tricks: Adult Language Acquistion

By Bianca Hill

When you look up “second language acquisition,” you often come across studies that discuss childhood language learning and the benefits of growing up bilingual. Today, however, there are hundreds of thousands of adults engaged in learning an additional language (Lx). Many people believe that once you reach adulthood, it is “too late” for you to gain competence in an Lx. Is it true that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? Research disagrees!

Here we present an overview of the different facets of adult language acquisition, its benefits, and a brief glimpse into the adult language acquisition scene in South Korea.

The Acquisition–Learning Distinction

Though the terms “language acquisition” and “language learning” are often used interchangeably, there are a few key differences between them. Language acquisition is the unconscious way we absorb a language through exposure. In contrast, learning is our conscious effort to memorize their rules (Richards & Smith, 2010).

This distinction is important because it can help adults decide on the best method to learn their Lx. An adult who is more interested in learning everyday Korean or English is better off prioritizing acquisition. While an adult who wants to take a language proficiency test such as TOPIK or TEPS is better off studying in a formal, structured way. Obviously, the most successful method of reaching competency in a new language will always be a combination of both acquisition and learning.

Language Acquisition Strategies for Adults

The first strategy for natural language acquisition is to engage with comprehensible input. This means consuming language resources that are just above your current level (Polat, 2016). This strategy is excellent because it provides exposure to everyday language, helps build useful vocabulary, and increases sociocultural awareness. There are a huge number of resources available to access comprehensible input in any language. Easily accessible resources include YouTube channels, language learning websites, TV shows, and podcasts.

The second strategy is immersion, or learning a language in an environment where you are surrounded by native speakers (Porter & Castillo, 2023). Immersion is particularly good for developing listening comprehension and speaking abilities. Research also suggests that immersion in an Lx leads to the subtle suppression of one’s native language (Zhang et al., 2021). This is beneficial as it forces you to be less reliant on your native language. It also fosters better listening comprehension and cultural understanding.

Factors That Impact Language Acquisition

Environment – Adults are in the unique position where they have the ability to choose a learning environment that suits their needs and prior knowledge. Adults can choose whether they want to enroll in academic-style classes, attend language exchange events, or learn solo at home. They are also in control of when and how much they learn at a time.

Prior Knowledge – Lived experiences inform learning in a variety of ways. Adults are aware of their own strengths and weaknesses when it comes to learning, so they can customize their learning experience. They also have strong cognitive skills. This helps them understand linguistic nuances, grammar patterns, and abstract concepts.

The Benefits of Language Acquisition

Language acquisition has many benefits for adults. It boosts cognitive skills like memory, creativity, multitasking, and conflict resolution (Kroll & Dussias, 2017). This leads to the deceleration of cognitive decline, particularly in older adults. An external benefit is professional development. Being able to speak more than one language is valuable in the workplace. It opens up chances for international jobs and language immersion. As mentioned, acquisition enhances cultural understanding. This can help adults connect with more people in different situations, promoting personal growth and better relationships.

Language Exchange in South Korea

The Korean Wave, or hallyu (한류), of the ’90s thrust South Korea onto the global popular culture map. This created a massive surge of interest in the country that, as of 2025, has only grown with the acclaim of Korea’s entertainment industry. South Korea is also a globally recognized technological innovation hub. This has led to a massive increase in the number of foreigners who have traveled to South Korea, be it for tourism, work, or university.

Though, many expats get by in Korea without knowing much Korean, there are plenty of resources for adults eager to learn the language. Living in Korea is the ultimate form of immersion if Korean fluency is your goal. Opportunities for adult Korean natives to learn English are increasing. This is due to the rise of adult English institutes and university courses. English immersion opportunities can be difficult to find in Korea. While there are areas with English- speaking expats and classes, they often lack long- term sustainability.

Conclusion

After a brief discussion, we can say with certainty that adults are perfectly capable of acquiring new languages. Whether you want to learn for personal or professional reasons, through textbooks or immersion, you are never too old to begin the language acquisition process.