There is a widespread notion that the ability to learn a foreign language is a special 'gift', without which the ordinary person can never hope to get very far. Evidence is growing, however, that the difficulties under which most of us labor in learning a new language are the result not of any lack of aptitude, but of inhibitions that our culture imposes on us. It helps if we can be in an environment where language-learning is looked on in a friendly; rather than a hostile way.