● Picking up a new language is not really that easy, but knowing more about the science of learning languages may help you speed up the learning progress.

　　學一門語言并非易事，不過多了解學外語的科學或許會進步更快。

　　● How we learn language

　　人們學習語言的方式

　　Learning language is something we’re born to do. As children, we learn to think, learn to communicate and intuitively pick up an understanding of grammar rules in our mother tongue, or native language. From then on, we learn all new languages in relation to the one we first knew—the one that we used to understand the world around us for the first time ever。

　　學習語言是人類與生俱來的行為。從孩提時起，我們就學習思考、學習交流，并且本能地掌握母語或本族語的語法。從那時起，我們便學習跟初識有關的任何新語言——正是憑著初識，我們才懂得周圍的世界。

　　● Learning a foreign language

　　學習一門外語

　　When it comes to learning a second language, adults are at a disadvantage. As we age, our brain’s plasticity (its ability to create new neurons and synapses) is reduced. Following brain damage that causes a loss of speech, for instance, researchers have observed that children are more likely to regain the power of speech, by creating new pathways in the brain to replace the damaged ones.

　　說到學習第二語言，成人總是處于不利地位。隨著年齡增長，人類大腦的可塑性就會衰退，而這種可塑性卻能產生新的神經元與突觸。緊接著大腦損傷便會造成語言能力的喪失。比如，研究人員已經發現，通過新陳代謝取代大腦受損細胞，兒童更容易重新獲得語言能力。

　　There’s still hope, though. A study of secondary language pronunciation found that some learners who started as adults scored as well as native speakers. It’s also been shown that motivation to learn can improve proficiency, so if you really want to learn a language, it’s not necessarily too late。

　　當然希望還是有的。一項有關第二語言發音的研究發現，有些成年學習者照樣可以將外語學得很地道。大師免費算命 加微信號：yn9080 解析感情婚姻，預測前勢命運！而且，學習語言的動機能極大提高語言掌握的熟練度。所以，如果你真的特別想學某種語言，任何時候都不算晚。

　　● Give yourself the best chance

　　給自己最好的機會

　　If you want to put in the effort to learn a new language, try these methods that are known for improving learning and memory。

　　如果你想努力學一門新語言，那就試試下面這些方法吧，這些方法可以在學習和記憶方面幫到你。

　　1. Spaced repetition

　　間隔重復

　　Spaced repetition is a proven memory technique that helps you keep what you’ve learned strong in your mind. The way it works is you revise each word or phrase you’ve learned in spaced intervals. Initially the intervals will be smaller: you might revise a new word a few times in one practice session, and then again the next day. Once you know it well you’ll be able to leave days or weeks between revisions without forgetting it。

　　“間隔重復”是很有效的記憶技巧，有助于將學過的知識牢牢記在大腦里。具體方法就是：每隔一段時間就復習學過的每個單詞或詞組。剛開始間隔時間比較短：你可能需要在某個練習階段復習好幾次生詞，然后第二天再重復。一旦熟悉以后，你可以幾天或者幾個星期再復習一下，這樣依舊可以記得清清楚楚。