Learn Spanish Travel Spanish Blog

Let’s speak Spanish awhile. That there French is makin’ mah tongue tired.

So you’ve decided to learn a language.   You’ve weighed all the variables…. where each language is spoken, how many people speak it, how useful each would be in your life and work.  And you’ve decided to go with….. drumroll please……… whichever is easiest.

Well, don’t beat yourself up about it.  We’ve ALL looked at which  would be easiest to learn when we first decided to learn a language.   Let me save you some work.  The easiest language to learn is …………………………… it depends.

No really, it does.  What do you consider to be easy?  Or rather, what would make a language seem easier to you?   Of the three major considerations (Grammar, Vocabulary and Pronunciation) all languages have their strengths and minuses.  Some might be easier in grammar, but more difficult to pronounce.  Others might have a larger, more complex vocabulary, but might have more words that are similar to their English counterparts.

And then there are the more minor (or maybe not so minor) considerations.  Do you have an affinity for a certain language?  Back when my wife and I were first starting to travel, with no language skills at all, we decided that we would try to  learn at least some basic phrases suitable for whatever area we were visiting.  A little German, a little French, a little Italian, a little Spanish and so on.  French seemed the easiest to me.  I don’t know why.  I just found it easier to remember and to say.  I have no idea how my pronunciation was.  I mean, this was very basic French we’re talking about.  No one spit on me and said “How dare you do that to our beautiful language!”

My wife, on the other hand, couldn’t grasp it.  She couldn’t seem to keep her français and Francois separate.  But she had no trouble with Spanish.  When she decided that she wanted to actually learn another language, she chose Spanish and went from zero Spanish to proficient in a year and a half.  She says that she just feels an affinity for Spanish that she doesn’t feel with any other language.

Other considerations (before we discuss grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation) might be: access to native speakers; schools in your area that teach (or don’t teach) your chosen language; family members with language experience; where you’ll be traveling; how you’ll be using your language (in the community and/or at work); and a long list of other considerations.

Make a list.  Write down everything  you can think of that might influence your decision on which language to learn.

Now.  Let’s take three languages -  Spanish, French and German.  Consider these aspects —

Grammar.  Of the three, French is the easiest when it comes to grammar.  German has a TON of declensions, and past and subjunctive in Spanish give even proficient speakers problems.

Vocabulary.  Both German and French have a lot of words that are similar to English.  Although Spanish does have words with English similarities, those of you who study history will know that there was a major Arabic influence on Spanish for a long period of time.  Morocco is, after all, just a day trip from southern Spain, and the Arabs controlled much of Spain for many years.  So ix nay on Spanish having the easiest vocabulary.

Pronunciation.  Spanish wins.  For one thing, it’s spoken phonetically.  And for the most part, Spanish is spoken just as it’s written, and every letter is pronounced.  And most of the sounds of Spanish exist in English.  You’ll have to roll our Rs, but not much more.  German has more sounds that aren’t in English.  Gutteral sounds.  And French has even more sounds that we don’t make in English.

So what’s the verdict?  With French and German, you would be more likely to know the word and say it correctly grammatically.  But you would be more likely to mispronounce them.  With Spanish, you would be more likely to pronounce it correctly, but then get the grammar wrong.

What are you good at? (He said with his poor English grammar).  Which is more important to you?  Do you have an “affinity” for one language over another?

If you live in the U.S., Spanish is the logical choice.  Unless, of course, you have political positions that make you dig in your heels.  But on a purely practical level, Spanish is the logical choice for a second language in the U.S., all other considerations aside.  There are places to practice and people with whom to practice.   There are more schools that teach Spanish (and at higher levels) than any other language.  And then, of course, you have this website to use.  Why waste a perfectly wonderful resource.

Made up your mind yet?

Tags:   choosing a language school · Easiest Language · Learn Spanish · Learning Spanish · Spanish vs French · Spanish vs. German · speak SpanishNo Comments