Dispelling Myths Regarding L۲ Acquisition in Childhood And Adult

This paper addresses and debunks several prevalent myths related to language acquisition in bothchildhood and adulthood. It challenges misconceptions such as non-native English-speaking parentsneeding to speak English at home, the ease of second language acquisition in early childhood, and thenotion that adults cannot effectively learn languages. Through a thorough review of empirical studies,including those by McCabe et al.[۱], Leikin[۲], Gold et al.[۳], and Kuhl[۴], the paper elucidates thecomplexities of language learning, emphasizing that children benefit most from hearing fluent languagefrom parents, and that adults, while lacking a "critical period," can leverage cognitive advantages andeffective strategies for language acquisition. The findings highlight the multifaceted benefits ofmultilingualism, including cognitive, social, and economic advantages, and propose that motivation,self-regulation, and tailored learning strategies are crucial at any age