Reply to Prof.

Mary

Dear prof., thank you so much for the additional insights regarding age and the role it plays in

learning of English as a second language. Lenneberg’s study(1967) established the impact of age on

bilingual language acquisition and concluded it could happen during specific critical periods between

2 and puberty. Other factors such as loss of brain plasticity may also explain why adults need more

time to learn than children. I found this to be primarily affecting the learning of a second language.

However, it is slightly different in the first language, where vocabularies have to be built and

mastered, making the adults better in vocabulary and communication. It is indeed a complex mix.

Thanks for your elaboration.