113 ¦ SLA research into practice: Is there a critical age period for language learning? episode artwork

EPISODE · May 19, 2026 · 31 MIN

113 ¦ SLA research into practice: Is there a critical age period for language learning?

from The Motivated Classroom · host Dr. Liam Printer

This second in a special mini-series on Second Language Acquisition (SLA) explores the Critical Period Hypothesis and language learning. Is there a critical age period for natural, easy, and effortless language acquisition or can anyone achieve success regardless of age? We take a look at various research studies and what the evidence has to say about this key question. Of course, this has major implications for language teachers and their practice so I hope you all enjoy it!Please let me know what you think!Keep in touch and share widely! Full programme notes are available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.liamprinter.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow The Motivated Classroom on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@themotivatedclassroom⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@motclasspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@themotivatedclassroom⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. I'd love to know what you think, please get in touch! Join the conversation with the hashtag #MotivatedClassroom. Enjoying the podcast? Leave a review on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Become a Patron of The Motivated Classroom podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com.

This second in a special mini-series on Second Language Acquisition (SLA) explores the Critical Period Hypothesis and language learning. Is there a critical age period for natural, easy, and effortless language acquisition or can anyone achieve success regardless of age? We take a look at various research studies and what the evidence has to say about this key question. Of course, this has major implications for language teachers and their practice so I hope you all enjoy it!Please let me know what you think!Keep in touch and share widely! Full programme notes are available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.liamprinter.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow The Motivated Classroom on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@themotivatedclassroom⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@motclasspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@themotivatedclassroom⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. I'd love to know what you think, please get in touch! Join the conversation with the hashtag #MotivatedClassroom. Enjoying the podcast? Leave a review on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Become a Patron of The Motivated Classroom podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com.

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113 ¦ SLA research into practice: Is there a critical age period for language learning?

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This second in a special mini-series on Second Language Acquisition (SLA) explores the Critical Period Hypothesis and language learning. Is there a critical age period for natural, easy, and effortless language acquisition or can anyone achieve...

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