Even a 70-year-old can learn a new language.

“You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”

This cliche is designed to absolve the elderly from the burden of learning new skills. Whether it’s picking up a new instrument, understanding the newest tech gadget, or acquiring a new language.

Conventional wisdom states that language acquisition is easier when we’re young because our brains are excellent at absorbing information from our environment, including the language(s) being spoken around us. But, once we fall victim to the inevitable march of time and our neurons deteriorate, we become less adept at learning new skills.

I call BS.

After three years of Spanish classes, all I walked away with are the phrases “Dónde está la biblioteca” and the trump card that gets me out of every conversation, “No hablo español.” So why do I not remember anything after all the time I spent agonizing over homework and exams in my youth?

The short answer is language education is schools is grossly inefficient.

While a younger age can make acquiring a language easier, it is by no means the most important factor. You see, learning languages boils down to two main foundations: vocabulary and immersion.

That’s it.

Starting any language is a treacherous journey. You don’t know what you don’t know. Everything sounds like gibberish. You feel like a monkey tasked with landing a rocket on the moon.

Congratulations, you’re on the right track.

Once you learn the basics, like the alphabet, counting, the days of the week, and asking where the toilet is (arguably the most important one), the real work begins.

You now need to build your vocabulary with the most common 2,000 to 3,000 words. Generally, around 80% of daily conversations in any language consist of those words. The best way to learn them is through a spaced repetition system (SRS) software like Anki.

Basically, this system tests you on each word. Each time you get it right, the interval between when you see it again increases. Inversely, if you get it wrong, you’ll see it again sooner. This technique is devastatingly effective and has been shown to move knowledge from our short-term to our long-term memory. Then, as you encounter new words, note them in your SRS software.

The second, and arguably more important, part is immersing yourself in that language as much as you possibly can. That includes watching movies, shows, YouTube videos, reading, listening to music or podcasts, and anything that exposes you to the spoken language as it’s commonly used.

The problem with school education is that it focuses too much on the proper use of language and grammar, making it pointless since everyday people speak informally. Not to mention, it’s incredibly boring.

When you watch a captivating movie or an entertaining YouTuber, you’re invested. Your brain creates connections and sees patterns where it previously didn’t. Eventually, you will subconsciously recognize words and learn new ones by adding them to your SRS software. However, vocabulary alone without context is not enough or useful. You need to see those words in practice to know how to use them.

Learning vocabulary is like having Lego pieces. Immersion allows you to build a structure out of them.

If you noticed, I didn’t mention anything about speaking yet. That was intentional.

At the beginning of language learning, your level is equivalent to an infant's. You don’t expect to have conversations with a 5-month-old, and you shouldn’t focus on or worry about speaking just yet. It’s only once you’ve amassed enough vocabulary to understand around 70% of your immersion that you’re ready to start speaking, which can take years.

That’s why vocabulary and immersion are the foundation upon which everything else is built.

And that’s also why whether you’re a 7-year-old or a 70-year-old, it’s never too late for you to acquire a new language. It all boils down to the techniques you use to learn the new language, not your age.

In fact, research has shown a litany of cognitive benefits to bilingualism. So not only are you taking care of your brain, but you are also learning how to ask for the toilet in a different language. What could be more important than that?