I feel incredibly fortunate to have grown up in a multicultural family. On one side, Lebanese and English/Irish; on the other, Italian and English/Irish. From an early age, I was exposed to different languages, cultures, foods, philosophies and traditions. Both sets of grandparents were highly intellectual and talented, but my grandmother in particular had a profound influence on me. We were extremely close – she spoke four languages fluently and three more to a conversational level. Because of her, I’ve developed a strong desire to learn languages as I’ve gotten older.
Despite doing well academically at school, I never truly applied myself. My younger self wouldn’t recognise who I am now – that’s for sure.
Choosing a language to learn is far more difficult than it seems. Initially, I wanted to learn Arabic, as I already had a fairly good foundation, but it proved much more challenging than I expected. I then considered French – especially as my grandmother was so passionate about it and it was her second language. Realistically, French would be incredibly useful, particularly as my parents have a place in France. But for some reason, I’ve always felt a bit self-conscious speaking it.
Instead, I began learning Italian early last year. There are a few personal reasons behind that choice and I hope that one day I’ll be able to use it in pursuit of some long-term dreams. I threw myself into it – downloading Duolingo, changing my Netflix settings and ordering an Italian book. I managed an impressive 260-day streak before eventually losing momentum. I even signed up to Preply and had weekly lessons on Saturday mornings. But as with any routine, consistency can be difficult. Between family life, hobbies, work and other commitments, building new habits is never an overnight success.
Towards the end of the year, I gave myself the rest I needed and decided to start fresh in the New Year. I reset all my progress and began learning Italian again from the start. I was surprised by how much I remembered – I achieved 100% across Sections 1 to 6. My average has dipped slightly in Units 7 and 8, but I’m still maintaining around 96% accuracy. I’m now halfway through Unit 9, with just one more unit to complete before moving on to Section 2.
One thing I’ve done differently this time is writing everything down. I treated myself to a beautiful notebook where I record new vocabulary and meanings. It’s been incredibly helpful to revisit and reinforce what I’ve learned. I’m also under no illusion that completing Duolingo will make me fluent – reading in Italian, watching Italian programmes and eventually mastering grammar are all essential parts of the journey.
Once I finish Duolingo, I plan to invest in one-to-one tuition with a native speaker. Ultimately, the only way to become truly proficient is through speaking. I’d love to go on to learn more languages in the future – perhaps French will come back into the picture. I’m hopeful that once you learn one language, picking up others becomes a little easier.
5 Top Reasons to Learn a Language after 40
1. It keeps your brain sharp
Learning a new language is one of the best mental workouts available. It strengthens memory, improves problem-solving skills and can even help delay cognitive decline. Think of it as cross-training for your brain.
2. You learn how you learn
At 40+, you bring self-awareness that younger learners often lack. You know what motivates you, how you retain information and what frustrates you. This makes your learning more efficient and often more enjoyable.
3. It opens deeper travel experiences
Knowing even a little of the local language transforms travel. You move beyond surface-level tourism and start connecting with people, culture and everyday life in a much more meaningful way.
4. It builds confidence in unexpected ways
Taking on something challenging later in life proves to yourself that you’re still capable of growth. That confidence often spills over into other areas – career, relationships, and personal goals.
5. It’s a powerful reminder that it’s not “too late”
Learning a language after 40 challenges the myth that age limits your ability to grow. It reinforces a mindset of lifelong learning and curiosity – which is far more important than how quickly you pick up vocabulary.
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