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The Benefits and Impact of Language Learning in Older Age 

Are you interested in teaching foreign languages to older adult learners? Join us for one of the workshops by the experts from Open University Scotland!

Group 1:

09.04.2024 (Tuesday), 9:45-11:15

Dobra 55, room 1.147

Group 2:

09.04.2024 (Tuesday), 13:15-14:45

Dobra 55, room 2.014

Presenters: dr Barbel Brash, dr Sylvia Warnecke, Open University Scotland in collaboration with Lingo Flamingo (Glasgow) and Centrum Aktywności Międzypokoleniowej (Warsaw)

As neuroscientists are only beginning to understand the wealth of positive effects bi- and multilingualism can have on our brain and mental health, there is growing awareness that language learning can also promote people’s wellbeing in many ways.

This workshop showcases the presenter team’s research findings around the benefits of language learning, especially for people in their third and fourth age. Moreover, the presenters will share the pioneering pedagogical approach of language learning for wellbeing, which they developed through exploring the practice of learning languages in various care settings.

Participants will investigate common ‘myths’ around (language) learning with senior learners and discover the trajectory of studying languages through different stages in life. This workshop surveys what is known about the linguistic, socio-affective, neurobiological, and cognitive underpinnings of the second language (L2) learning process in adults, and evaluates the extent to which learning another language may contribute to health and wellbeing, for example in active ageing.

Our partner organization, the Glasgow-based charity Lingo Flamingo, will join the session and present practical examples from their languages for wellbeing sessions in Scottish care homes and report the positive impact they have observed on the senior learners and their careers.

The participants will also have the chance to join our team and become a foreign language teacher in the upcoming project dedicated to older adult learners.