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Translation "And what is this secret?" - you may ask ... Now we come to the most interesting moment, when we discover how different languages can be stored in one head, how the brain recognizes a particular language, how the brain can switch from one language to another, and why languages do not mix in one's mind. The brain of any person operates not with words and phrases, but with the meanings associated with these words and phrases, therefore infinite number of language units can be attached to these concepts. Thus, the idea of a cow will remain unchanged, whether you call it корова or la vaca. Our brain is able to remember a huge number of words. The same is observed with phrases. Each language has a specific set of phrases associated with the same meaning: What is your name? (English) Как тебя зовут? (Русский) ¿Cómo te llamas? (Española) The human brain needs a lot of time to realize the meaning of a word or a phrase. But as soon as the meaning is clarified and fixed in one's mind, it does not matter how many words and phrases from other languages are added to it. Why the learning of a different language is easier at a young age? Because there are not so many words and phrases from the native language in a young brain. There is nothing complicated to add the additional expressions to these concepts  from other languages. After that all languages ​​are formed in the same way, without highlighting the native language as the main one. It is very important that the native speaker is associated  in the child’s mind with only one language. In this case, switching to another language is easy. For a child growing up in bilingualism, the formation of languages has its own difficulties, especially if parents switch from one language to another from time to time. “I remember a moment from my childhood,” recalls Svetlana I., “when my parents ask me something, but I am silent. I understand what they ask me about, but I don’t know what words I should say, or which language I should choose, as I would say now." The example of Svetlana shows that the child distinguishes between different language systems even at an early age. Words and phrases from different languages do not mix in a child's head. The logical explanation for this phenomenon may be the assumption that all words and phrases of the same language are linking together by additional connections. You can imagine different languages as several folders under the names "English", "Española", "Française", "Russian", etc. While folders of foreign languages are still formed, all of them can be stored in a folder called "Foreign Language". I remember, at the very beginning, when I was just starting to learn English, I often came across a curious situation. If I could not recall the English word, my memory helpfully suggested the German equivalent, despite the fact that I did not know German well, although I studied it in school. An adult and a child should learn a foreign language in fundamentally different ways. If a child simultaneously learns the concepts of words and phrases, studying these words, the adult has already formed a system of knowledge. To follow the path of a child is to waste time for him or her. He/she just needs to associate foreign words and expressions with the system that already exists in his/her head. It takes short time. There is no problem to memorize the nouns. The problems arise when we move on to the phrases. Not everyone understands that we speak mainly with the help of template phrases. In the speech practice of any nation, there are a huge number of spoken units used by most people (How are you? What are you going to do? Don’t worry! Get well soon! Come here! We need to talk. Good job! What do you want?) The conversational practice of one language does not correspond always to the conversational practice of another language, so, some phrases from the English language have no analogue in another language and vice versa. Literal translation does not work for the reason we spoke before: our brain needs a lot of time to realize the meaning of a phrase that does not have a sound matrix in the brain. It is very good if we can convey the meaning by a simple translation of the words using the same syntax: ¡Abre la puerta por favor! Open the door, please! A good option is when the phrase of one language has an exact semantic analogue in another language, while the means of expressing the idea are different. For example, "Curiosity killed the cat". Even if the meaning of this proverb is clear enough, you will be better understood if you use the Russian analog of this proverb "Любопытной Варваре на базаре нос оторвали". How to say "Good job!" in Russian? Молодец! How to translate in English Spanish phrase Tengo frío (literally "I have a cold"? - "I am cold", etc, etc, etc. Since such approach to foreign language learning is not common, it is not surprising that there is small number of resources to help in it. Grammar usually takes this place. But, unfortunately, grammar learning don't help too much. Trying to speak, people begin to translate phrases of their native language using the grammatical rules of another language. It is clear that people do not understand or misunderstand them. After unsuccessful efforts to comprehend an incomprehensible, person either gives up or intuitively switches to a path called "How to say?" Having memorized even a small number of phrases, you begin to hear and understand the foreign language. Feel again what 2-3 years old children feel: I understand everything, but I can’t say anything. But you will need much less time to learn how to express your thoughts in words of foreign language. You will use only memorized phrases in a beginning, in a time quantity will turn into quality: you will automatically create your own sentences based on familiar patterns. An interesting phenomenon is observed during the study of a foreign language. Of the two people with the same physical capabilities of the brain (with the same visual and auditory memory), one is better at mastering the language, who is less educated, who knows less. This happens because, on the one hand, he/she will never learn another language with the help of a book. He/she will immediately take the right path by listening to the people. On the other hand, his/her small vocabulary will be quickly supplemented by analogues of a foreign language, he/she will feel comfortable in a foreign language environment and, from his/her point of view, will completely “master the language”. Comfort is a word that determines the degree of a foreign language learning. Obviously, that the comfort zone of a person with a rich native language goes far beyond the comfort zone of a person with a poor vocabulary of the native language. In general, if we compare two people with the same intellect, then the one with the better musical ear will understand spoken language faster. If we compare two people with the same parameters, then the one who is more motivated will learn a foreign language faster. The last statement is equally true in relation to any subject. A smile and a good mood are the best friends on the path to knowledge. Never give up. I know that another language learning is a long and difficult journey. I myself went through it and understand perfectly the anger and despair of those who stepped on it in adulthood. For those who are just starting to learn English, I can offer the lessons that my daughter Masha once offered me: Learn English with Maria Good luck! Galina Pozharsky content