Learning a language can be a lifelong passion for one person, but a nightmare for the next. In the UK, it has not been compulsory for students to continue with a language at GCSE level since 2004. However, this has not prevented a rise in the popularity of MFL, with an increase in MFL GCSE entries of 9.2% between 2019 and 2023 according to UK government figures. Increasingly more students are realising how beneficial having another language can be for their futures, both socially and economically. But why is it that some people have more of a flair for languages than others?

Language skills is just one area in which there is conflicting support from psychologists for the influence of nature and/or nurture. On one hand, there is some research support for the biological control of one’s ability to pick up a foreign language. People with a particular variation of the FOXP2 gene have been shown to learn a language faster and more accurately than others with a different gene mutation. This could be because FOXP2 binds to genes involved in functions such as cell signalling and neural development. A 2009 study by Fisher and Scharff found that FOXP2 is also important for controlling the plasticity of neural circuits. This means that the gene affects changes in the structure and function of the nervous system in response to experience, in this case the new language information learned. Neuroplasticity is essential for spaced repetition to have any effect, as we will see later.

Others believe that a talent of any sort is determined by an enthusiasm for learning rather than an inherited ability for a specific activity. For instance, Matt Riddley in his book ‘Nature via Nurture’ argues that those who enjoy the learning process are more likely to commit to the extra practice that is needed to successfully develop a skill. This could suggest that those with the gene that codes for the enjoyment of learning would be more skilled linguists - which still relies on a biological basis! He also advocates for the role of positive reinforcement, which refers to the process in which the frequency of a behaviour is increased because it is rewarded. In the case of languages, being praised and admired by peers or teachers for your language ability is likely to result in you practicing more to ensure you continue receiving these compliments.

Both enthusiasm and reinforcement contribute to a person’s willingness to engage is spaced repetition practice, which has been proven more effective than cramming information in the night before an exam. This was first demonstrated back in 1885 by German psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus; he found that he was able to remember gibberish syllables he learnt using spaced repetition more effectively than when he studied them for a longer time, but all on the same day. Both research that built on Ebbinghaus’ findings and more recent studies suggest that one explanation for this is the consolidation theory, which Launder used to make his model of spaced training. When you learn information, a short-lived memory trace is created in the brain. Revisiting this content too soon means that a new trace overlaps with the old trace, leading to lesser reinforcement. However, if the interval between learning and revision is too long, the chance of activating an earlier trace is reduced, and so reinforcement is less effective. Therefore, for spaced repetition to be as successful as possible, there needs to be a balance between the reinforcing effect and the ability of a new trial to reactivate an earlier trace, which will produce a stronger long-term memory trace.

In summary, there are multiple factors that will contribute to your language learning success. You might be genetically predisposed to enjoy learning, and so are willing to work hard at your language skills. Alternatively, it may be that your motivation comes from external factors, as suggested by behaviourism. Or perhaps you have nailed your revision techniques, leading you to excel in exams and helping you find a passion at the same time. One thing's for sure - anyone is welcome in the wonderful world of languages!