Languages › Spanish Am I Too Old to Learn Spanish? Share Flipboard Email Print Nunca eres demasiado viejo para aprender. (You are never too old to learn.). Photo by Beverley Goodwin; licensed via Creative Commons. Languages History & Culture Pronunciation Vocabulary Writing Skills Grammar By Gerald Erichsen Spanish Language Expert B.A., Seattle Pacific University Gerald Erichsen is a Spanish language expert who has created Spanish lessons for ThoughtCo since 1998. our editorial process Gerald Erichsen Updated November 06, 2018 Someone has said that the maximum optimum age range for easily learning a foreign language is 12 to 14. I started studying Spanish was I was 14 and went on to take some college courses, mostly in literature. By the time I got to my junior year in college, I knew a lot about the language and literature but still had problems speaking and understanding it when spoken. Fortunately, I met two Latinos who were not there to study English, and because of other common interests we became friends. In a month or so I was understanding practically everything and speaking with facility, although not without errors. I am now retired and somewhat older than you and spend most of my time studying one thing or another, including piano and French. I admit another language doesn't come quite so easily at my age, but it comes. I recommend you just plunge ahead as long as your interest will sustain you. Find some good books in Spanish and have a go at them. Read Spanish newspapers, watch Spanish TV, and if you have the time, take a Berlitz or similar course a couple nights a week. Of course, if you can find a Spanish-speaking friend, all the better. And don’t worry about your age.