According to new research, most baby boomers love learning new things, but feel they are too old to actually do it.
The survey of 2,000 Americans evenly divided by generation revealed that although 74% of Boomers said they “like” learning new things, and six in 10 think so more now than when they were younger. Learning something new is more rewarding, yet they think they are too old to actually learn new skills.
The feeling of being “too old to learn” has become stronger across generations, with respondents choosing age 26 as the best age to learn something new.
In contrast, the survey found that 43% of respondents – across generations – believe they are more successful at learning new things at their current age than when they were younger.
This is due to things like being more patient (42%), learning because they want to and not because they need to (30%) and having more time (29%).
commissioned by Duolingo And a survey conducted by Talker Research revealed that Americans want to learn new things, but they’re holding themselves back.
“Learning doesn’t stop as we age,” said Bozena Pjaak, VP of Learning and Curriculum at Duolingo. “While young learners may benefit from speed, adults benefit from richer life experiences, greater knowledge and stronger problem-solving abilities. Studies also show that learning new skills like language can help reduce cognitive decline and boost memory. We see students of all ages thrive – reinforcing that it’s never too late to keep moving forward.”
One skill that respondents are interested in learning is a new language – 26% of Americans surveyed, regardless of age, are currently working on learning a new language.
For these respondents, they cited supporting their cognitive health (27%) as one of the top motivators for learning a new language – keeping their brains sharp as they age. Other top motivators include cultural interest (31%), travel (27%) and communicating more effectively (27%).
Despite the benefits respondents may see in learning a new language, the number of people actively working on this skill varies greatly across generations. Nearly half (45%) of Gen Z are learning a second language, while only 8% of Baby Boomers said the same.
Despite those obvious differences, the survey found that Americans have roughly the same interest in learning a second language, regardless of age. The results revealed that 33% of Gen Zers, 41% of Millennials, 46% of Gen X and 40% of Baby Boomers would like to learn another language.
So, what’s stopping them? The lack of time, the perceived difficulty, not knowing where to start and not having anyone to practice with at the highest rank for generations.
Talker Research for Duolingo/SWNS
In this increasingly globalized world, language skills have wide-ranging benefits for learners of all ages. And for those who are only confident in one language, it makes them feel limited in the places they can travel (21%) and miss out on interactions with multilingual friends and family (18%), while others Worry that they are not as smart as other people who can speak multiple languages (16%).
“As we age, learning evolves, with older adults adapting well to new methods and often excel at connecting new knowledge to their experiences, which improves memory retention and comprehension,” Pajak said. Can increase.” “The use of physical or visual aids such as handwritten notes or visual mnemonics can also enhance learning through a multi-sensory approach.
“Although some people may feel less comfortable with technology, studies show that adopting digital tools can provide immense benefits by providing personalized, adaptive learning experiences. We encourage older learners to take advantage of their patience and life experience while adopting the learning strategies that work best for their needs.
Why are respondents working to learn a new language?
- I am interested in other cultures – 31%
- I want to keep my brain sharp as I age – 27%
- I would like to visit a country where this language is spoken – 27%
- I want to communicate better with people around me (neighbors, community members, coworkers, customers, etc.) – 27%
- Speaking this language will be beneficial to me professionally – 24%
- I want to understand foreign media (movies, TV shows, games, music, etc.) – 21%
- I learn languages as a hobby – 21%
Those respondents who are confident in only one language said. , ,
- I feel limited in the places I can travel/where I am comfortable traveling – 21%
- I feel deprived of interactions with multilingual friends and family – 18%
- I worry that I’m not as smart as other people who can speak multiple languages - 16%
- I have had an awkward misunderstanding with someone who speaks another language – 16%
- I feel limited in the media I can consume – 16%
- I feel like a “dumb American” – 12%
- I feel excluded or separated from my culture and heritage – 9%
Survey Method:
Talker Research surveyed 2,000 Americans (divided evenly by generation); The survey was launched by Duolingo and administered by Talker Research and conducted online between October 8-14, 2024.
