THE OPTIMAL AGE FOR FOREIGN LANGUAGE LEARNING The proverb, ‘As the twig is bent, so grows the tree.’ illustrates how early experiences shape the future, and this idea is particularly applicable to learning foreign languages. This article will discuss why early learning is beneficial, examining biological, comparative and opposing viewpoints on language learning. Early childhood is the optimal time for foreign language learning, as the Critical Period Hypothesis, Brain Plasticity Theory, and various studies fundamentally support this assertion. The brain during childhood, between infancy and puberty, is like a sponge easily absorbing information; however, after adolescence, this rapid learning process begins to slow down. According to Lenneberg’s Critical Period Hypothesis, the brain usually undergoes functional specialization and lateralization after puberty. The Brain Plasticity Theory, which argues that the biological clock reduces the capacity and flexibility of the organisms to ...