You’re never too old to learn something new!

Welcome to the first blog post on my new website, ‘Frances Walker – English Coach‘! It’s great to see you here!

I know this is rather a curious title for the first blog post on this website, but I hope it catches your attention, because it really is true – it’s NEVER too late to learn new skills, habits and information!

The reason this subject is close to my heart is because, as a 50-plus-year-old person, I’ve come to realise through my own experience that age doesn’t matter when it comes to me learning new skills. Anyone who knows me well is very aware that I’m an avid course-taker! I love studying subjects that I feel help me to grow as a person and a coach. Take this website, for example – three weeks ago, I had absolutely no idea about website design. I know I still have a lot more to learn, and you’ll see plenty of developments over the next few months, but I’ve shown myself that I can do it! The main factors for me as far as this task is concerned are firstly that I was really motivated to build it and share with you, and secondly because I had the time to dedicate to it. Motivation and time! I’ll be looking more closely as these in future blog posts, but I just wanted to use myself as an example of how ‘older’ brains can still learn new skills.

I don’t know about you, but I grew up believing what I was told about the brain – that that after about 18 years old, our brain cells start dying, and it becomes more and more difficult to learn something new. Well, the good news is that this isn’t true!

Developments in neuroscience have shown us so much over the past few decades, and now we have proof, thanks to the invention of magnetic resonance imaging techniques which take a very detailed look inside the brain, that the brain can form new pathways to store new information, no matter how old you are!

Neuroplasticity

The term used to describe the ability of the brain to reorganize itself, both physically and functionally, throughout our lives due to our environment, behaviour, thinking, and emotions is called ‘neuroplasticity‘. This is a relatively new term, coined in about the 1950’s, but mention of a ‘malleable brain’ was made as long ago as the 1800’s! While it is true that the brain is more ‘plastic’ when we are young, it has been shown that plasticity continues throughout our lives.

Here’s a very short video from ‘Sentis‘, which explains the concept of neuroplasticity very clearly (don’t forget, you can view the video with subtitles by clicking on the ‘Subtitles/Closed Captions‘ button at the foot of the video):

So the expression ‘Use it or lose it!‘ seems very appropriate here, doesn’t it? If we change a habit, or don’t regularly use certain information, the pathways in our brain become weaker. And the opposite occurs too – if we create new pathways, for example when we learn a new language, musical instrument or sport, and we use those new pathways regularly, these pathways becomes stronger, and it becomes easier to retrieve information.

Of course, this is only a very simplistic overview of one of the amazing properties of our brain, but I’ll be digging a little deeper into other properties in later blog posts.

The reason I feel it is so important to talk about neuroplasticity here is that many adult language learners I have met during my teaching and coaching careers have told me that their brain finds it difficult to retain the English they have learnt as they get older. I hear comments such as, “I‘ve been trying to learn English for years, but it just doesn’t stick in my brain.” or “I’m too old and English is too difficult.” or “I give up! I’ve tried everything, but I just can’t learn anymore.“. I can relate to these sentiments, having studied Spanish at evening classes as an adult! However, I’d like to try to reassure you by saying that I believe the key here is not WHAT you have tried to learn, but HOW you have tried to learn it.

Neuroplasticity and Neurolanguage Coaching®

This is where Neurolanguage Coaching®* can really help since it combines principles and techniques of neuroscience and language coaching. I, as your Neurolanguage Coach®*, am trained to use techniques which guide you as the learner (or ‘Coachee’) to take full advantage of neuroplasticity to learn in such a way that new, solid and long-lasting learning pathways are formed in your brain, and that your new-found English language skills ‘stick’. Neurolanguage Coaching®* also offers a very special ‘brain-friendly’ way of learning when compared to traditional classroom or language school approaches. The sessions are much more Coachee-led, enjoyable  and relaxed.

So why not give Neurolanguage Coaching®* a try? Let me help you to create new English language pathways!

As a final, heart-warming testament to the power of neuroplasticity, I’d like to share this truly inspirational video entitled ‘The Brain that Changed‘ featuring Andew Short, an Australian man living with cerebral palsy, and his inspirational trainer and coach, Lee Campbell.