In contrast, a near-native speaker usually acquires language skills after childhood, and relies less on family and social immersion to learn the fundamentals. While nursery rhymes, parent-child interaction, playtime with peers, and wonderfully receptive minds help children internalize their mother language, adults typically struggle with a desire to “figure it out.” For grown-ups, classroom instruction, self-study books, cassettes, or software are quicker, more accessible means to learning a language; the trade-off is that these methods are less thorough. In addition, adults lack the “sponge” dynamic of the youthful mind. If you don’t know what I mean, sit down with a six-year-old and play a game of Concentration or Husker Du?