The Key to Learning Languages: The Correct Ear

Which ear is used for listening? One would think that this question would only be asked in response to a query regarding your preferred writing hand (left or right).

However, 3,000 newborns in a study discovered that distinct ears see various things. A common notion states that our right ear is superior at taking up spoken sounds, whereas our left ear rapidly focuses on music and song sounds.

This would corroborate the advice of French ENT Dr Alfred Tomatis, who states that listening with your right ear is optimal, especially when learning a new language. This is due to a direct relationship between the right ear and the left brain, which processes and stores language. Also, the earlier you begin, the higher your chances of learning a language rapidly.

Stated differently, language acquisition occurs more swiftly in younger people than in older persons. Why? Between the ages of 0 and 3, the brain can grow up to three times larger. That only happens at this moment, and the decisions made here could have a significant impact on one's future.

Therefore, in contrast to adult ears and brains that are already imprisoned within the linguistic systems of their mother tongue, if the child is exposed to one or two languages at this age range, their fully developed ears and brain will easily accommodate the acoustic characteristics of the language or languages.

For more information, visit Speech and Language Development Australia.