Teacher Talking Time Kids do NOT learn languages faster than adults. That's a MYTH - Dr. Karen Lichtman
Oct 14, 2025
Dr. Karen Lichtman, a researcher on age effects and input-based second language teaching, debunks the idea that children learn languages faster than adults. She discusses why adults often outperform kids, the value of easy, high-frequency input, balancing implicit and explicit instruction, designing beginner courses, and the role of TPRS and storytelling.
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Don’t Let Grammar Kill Fluency
- Heavy explicit instruction and error correction steer learners toward accuracy-focused, less fluent performance.
- Teach less grammar early and postpone targeted explicit work until learners have ample input to shape.
Day-One Beginner Routine
- Start beginners orally with simple either/or and yes/no questions, names, and TPR to build repetition and parsing.
- Add written input only after learners have had oral practice to avoid overloading them.
Replace Grammar With Vocabulary Focus
- If you fear dropping grammar, focus on vocabulary as a concrete anchor for beginners.
- Vocabulary uses declarative memory and remains learnable and testable over a lifetime.