It's a proven fact that the way in which we remember things changes as we get older. Just look at the different ways in which kids and adults learn languages.

Kids like to be active and involved. They learn best by sing songs, mimicking others and playing games. They can learn to repeat words after only hearing them a couple of times.

Adults prefer to analyse a language and find out how it works before they start speaking. This is often influenced by fear of failure but also reflects an ingrained learning strategy developed through years of life experience.

On the surface, it seems that kids learn faster. They start speaking a new language more quickly and find it easier to remember new vocabulary. However, adults have certain advantages, too.

Adults are generally able to concentrate for longer periods of time. They aren't distracted by friends wanting to play football or thinking about what they want for Christmas next year.

Mature learners also have their own learning strategy. They know what works for them and are able to plan their studies accordingly.

Motivation is another factor that can be an advantage for older learners. Rather than preparing for exams, they are usually learning a language for a specific reason such as improving their career prospects or preparing to move to another country.

I've already mentioned that people have more trouble learning new vocabulary as they get older. However, with the correct training, an adult learner's brain will adapt and language learning has been proven to have a positive effect on preventing memory loss in older people.

So, in summary, by adapting your learning style and playing to your strengths, it's never too late to learn a language!

Wil Procter is an educational writer who blogs about learning English at http://wilsworldofwords.com/ and other languages at http://learn2lingo.com/blog/.