This post highlights 3 basic differences in the way a child and an adult learn to speak a language. After knowing the differences, you can easily follow 4 basic rules of learning by remembering the name of a flower, the ROSE.

Number One. An adult has a pre-conceived idea about languages. A child does not. Imagine yourself as a baby. When words are spoken to you, you will no idea what these words mean: stars, twinkle, baby, clouds, angels, milk, sleep, hello. You are not ready to form a relationship yet between the words used and the object they represent. So when a child learns new languages, he does not make any comparison between languages. He sees each language to be learned as unique in itself. He also develops the skill to control the knowledge he absorbs. He has better focus and concentration.

Number Two. An adult would have learned of the culture from where the language comes through experience with his native and foreign environment. A child does not because he is not independent enough to explore beyond the safety of his native environment. He learns to speak faster than the adult because he can stay focus and concentrate on learning the language, independent of the cultural experience the language brings.

Number Three. An adult learns languages for practical reasons: travelling, communication, business, relationships, cultural. He fulfills an extrinsic need to grow into his environment. A child continues to learn languages without seeing any practical need of its use in his environment. He fulfills an intrinsic need to grow from within, by absorbing images and impressions from his environment to aid his growth. A child constructs his knowledge.

There can be more than 3 points but the above are the common ones I have identified. Despite these differences, there are indeed 4 basic rules to be followed, the process of which will eventually lead to speaking a new language or developing life skills:

1. Repetition

Love For Repetition: Mother Of Learning

2. Work
Love Of Work

3. Silence
Love Of Silence

4. Order
Love Of Order

Read, learn and apply.

How to remember these rules? Just remember this flower: R-0-S-E. 🙂 (Repeat, Order, Silence, Effort – Work)

In addition to that, I recommend this book, The Absorbent Mind by Maria Montessori, which has truly made me see things from the eyes of the child.