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It is widely believed that children learn languages more easily than adults. There is some truth in this idea, but research suggests that the picture is more complicated, and that adults have important advantages of their own.
Young children who grow up hearing a language every day usually develop a natural accent and an instinctive feel for grammar. They do not need to study rules; they simply absorb the language from the people around them. However, this process takes thousands of hours of listening and speaking over many years.
Adults, on the other hand, often make faster progress at the beginning. They can use the knowledge they already have about how language works, they can read and take notes, and they can understand explanations of grammar. Older learners also tend to be better at planning their study and choosing strategies that suit them. In one classroom study, adult beginners learned basic vocabulary more quickly than a group of children in the same period.
Where adults usually find it harder is pronunciation. Many people who start learning in adulthood keep a noticeable accent even after they become fluent. Researchers point out, however, that an accent rarely stops people from being understood, and that clear communication is a more useful goal than sounding like a native speaker.
Motivation may matter more than age. Adults who learn a language because they want to travel, work abroad or talk to family members often continue for years, while those who feel forced to learn may give up quickly. There is also growing interest in the idea that learning a language later in life may help keep the mind active, although this research is still at an early stage.