Here’s why young adults enjoy learning new skills

Most young adults want to learn new things, but they think they are too old to do so, according to a new study.

The survey of 2,000 Americans, evenly divided by generation, found that although 74% of young adults said they “love” learning new things, six in 10 find that learning something new is more rewarding now than before when they were younger, they still think they are too old to learn new skills.

The feeling of being “too old to learn” was reinforced across generations, with respondents citing 26 as the best age to learn something new.

In contrast, the survey found that 43% of respondents – across generations – believe they are more successful at learning new things at their current age than when they were younger.

This is due to things like being more patient (42%), learning because they want to rather than because they have to (30%) and having more time (29%).

Commissioned by Duolingo and conducted by Talker Research, the survey found that Americans want to learn new things, but are holding themselves back.

“Learning doesn’t stop with age,” said Bozena Pajak, VP of learning and curriculum at Duolingo. “While younger learners may have a speed advantage, adults benefit from rich life experience, greater knowledge and strong problem-solving skills. Studies also show that learning new skills, such as a language, can help delay cognitive decline and boost memory. We see students of all ages flourish – reinforcing that it’s never too late to keep growing.”

One skill respondents are interested in learning is a new language – 26% of Americans surveyed, regardless of age, are currently working on learning a new language.

For these respondents, they cited supporting their cognitive health (27%) – keeping their brains sharp as they age – as one of the main motivators for learning a new language. Other top motivators include cultural interest (31%), travel (27%) and more effective communication (27%).

Despite the benefits respondents may see in learning a new language, the number of people actively working on the skill varied greatly by generation. Almost half of Gen Z (45%) are learning another language, while only 8% of adult children said the same.

Despite these large differences, the survey found that Americans are about equally interested in learning another language, regardless of their age. The results revealed that 33% of Gen Zers, 41% of Millennials, 46% of Gen X and 40% of Baby Boomers would like to learn another language.

So what’s holding them back? Lack of time, perceived difficulty, not knowing where to start and having no one to practice with rank higher in generations.

In this increasingly globalized world, language skills have a wide range of benefits for learners of all ages. And for those who are only confident in one language, it leaves them feeling limited in the places they can travel (21%) and left out of conversations with multilingual friends and family (18%), while others also worry that they are not as smart as other people who can speak many languages ​​(16%).

“As learning evolves with age, adults adapt well to new methods and often excel at relating new knowledge to their own experiences, which can improve memory retention and comprehension,” Pajak said. “Using physical or visual aids such as handwritten notes or visual mnemonics can also enhance learning through a multisensory approach.

“While some may feel less comfortable with technology, studies show that embracing digital tools can provide tremendous benefits by providing personalized and adaptive learning experiences. We encourage older learners to take advantage of their patience and life experience by embracing the learning strategies that work best for their needs.”

WHY DO YOU WORK TO LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE?

• I have an interest in other cultures – 31%
• I want to keep my brain sharp as I age – 27%
• I want to visit the country where this language is spoken — 27%
• I want to communicate better with those around me (neighbors, community members, co-workers, customers, etc.) – 27%
• It will be useful for me to speak this language professionally – 24%
• I want to understand foreign media (movies, TV shows, sports, music, etc.) — 21%
• I learn languages ​​as a hobby – 21%

THEY ARE CALLED ENGAGED WHO CONFIDENT ONLY IN ONE LANGUAGE. . .

• I feel limited in the places I can travel/I am comfortable traveling to — 21%
• I feel left out of conversations with multilingual friends and family — 18%
• I worry that I’m not as smart as other people who can speak multiple languages ​​- 16%
• I had a funny misunderstanding with someone who speaks another language – 16%
• I feel limited in the media I can consume – 16%
• I feel like a “dumb American” – 12%
• I feel excluded or disconnected from my culture and heritage – 9%

Survey methodology:

Talker Research surveyed 2,000 Americans (evenly divided by generation); the survey was commissioned by Duolingo and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between October. 8–14, 2024.