Age Doesn't Matter!? Secrets to Learning a New Language Even After 60: Self-Efficacy Over Learning Methods

In an experiment where 80 English speakers aged 60 to 83 learned the basics of Croatian online, two methods were compared: one with grammatical explanations (explicit) and one without (incidental). The results showed that both groups achieved similar learning outcomes, with an average accuracy of over 80%. The writing tasks were easier than the listening tasks, and the incidental group tended to respond faster. Furthermore, language aptitudes such as associative memory and phoneme-grapheme correspondence explained performance, and socio-psychological factors like employment status and self-concept were also suggested to be involved. The conclusion is clear: age is not a determining factor. The ability to choose one's learning method autonomously and the confidence built through small successes enhance outcomes. While critical period research suggests that starting at a younger age is advantageous for achieving "complete native-level" proficiency, it also shows that adults can reach high levels of mastery. The findings of this study support that reaching a practical level of proficiency is achievable with the right design.