Viewpoint: Left, right, and nerve centre Available to Purchase

Learning a language is the easiest thing in the world. We all do it. We all learn our mother tongue. Why then is it so difficult for many to learn a second language? And as we leave our childhood behind it becomes even more difficult. In no small measure it is due to the hang‐ups we develop. In particular we are afraid to make ourselves look foolish. So why not seek to learn a second language as we learnt the first? One way would be to drop defensive attitudes, and become childlike once more. For the mass of people, it is unlikely that this would be possible; hence alternatives have to be sought.