Introduction

Recent studies have indicated that more mature learners benefit from encouragement from “right brain activity”.  The brain essentially has two different hemispheres, the left brain and the right brain.  The left hemisphere is the logical, analytical, structured thinking component; whereas the right is more focused upon aspects of creativity, random patterns, holistic ( the big picture) and intuition.  Individuals tend to generate their own choice of individual learning style.  The right brain tends to lean towards the more creative learner and holistic learning concepts. With regard to learning different languages the right brain has the following characteristics that aid the developmental process:

Curriculum

Within the curriculum thought process the right brain enables a more holistic view of the subject matter. This provides for a more expanded curriculum and wider language learning concepts. The learning process can provide more weight to creative, imagination and synthesis skills.

Instruction

Within the language teaching component the language instructor should provide study materials which engage both parts of the brain.  Exercises that combine structure, analysis and logic (left brain) combined with intuition, creativity and imagination (right brain). (Assoc, Right Brain vs. Left Brain)

Encouragement of Right Brain learning activity

Taxonomy of Memory

One of the main aspects of learning languages is the ability of good memory.  The ability to retain new words, level of comprehension and conjunction.  Within the context of memory there is a definitive hierarchy:

(John H. Schumann, 1992)

“Experts tell us that everyone has genius-like capabilities. And, you know what I found? The right brain subconscious is so fast and intuitive that it can naturally reveal the solutions to complex questions or problems before our logical, doubting left brain kicks in. We just need to get more in touch with those right brain functions.”  (Shichida, 2009)

Advantages of the Older Learner and right brain functions

The older language student often sees the younger person grasping the language more efficiently, quicker and with less effort.  This can become very demotivating for the older student.  As such this presents a different type of challenge for the older learner.  In order to put this into better perspective it is possible to a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) study of the older learner.