What are the challenges in sustaining language proficiency long-term

The challenges in sustaining language proficiency long-term include several key factors:

1. Lack of consistent practice and exposure to the language causes skills to decline over time. Without regular use, aspects like vocabulary, speaking fluency, and writing proficiency suffer. ^{1, 2}

2. Insufficient and inconsistent instructional support can slow or limit proficiency development, especially in the early stages. Long-term English learners (LTEL) often struggle more in reading and writing compared to listening and speaking. ¹

3. Motivation and engagement are critical, as maintaining interest over the long term is difficult. Psychological factors such as learner anxiety or loss of motivation negatively impact sustained language use. ^{3, 4}

4. External socio-economic and cultural factors shape language retention. Limited resources, access to qualified teachers, cultural attitudes, social isolation, and high costs of language education contribute to challenges in maintaining proficiency. ^{5, 6}

5. The complexity of the language and difficulty in mastering specific skills can affect long-term retention and mastery. More complex language forms may be more easily forgotten unless strongly encoded initially. ^{7, 8}

6. Changes in usage patterns and language dominance, especially for bilinguals or second language learners, can lead to attrition or gradual loss of proficiency if the language is used less over time. ⁹

7. Technological tools like AI chatbots and gamified learning can support motivation and practice but currently face challenges in cultural contextualization and sustaining learner attention long-term. ^{4, 3}

Overall, sustaining language proficiency long-term requires continuous practice, motivational support, effective instruction, and favorable socio-cultural conditions. Without these, language skills tend to diminish gradually over time despite initial gains in learning. ^{2, 5, 1}

References

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