| With such a large Hispanic population, there | | | | learning Spanish, while those who speak |
| are many first, second or third generation | | | | Germanic languages such as Dutch and German |
| Spanish speaking Latinos in the United | | | | will find English easier to learn. |
| States. In addition to that, there are | | | | |
| thousands of visitors to the U.S., whether | | | | - Related Languages |
| they are tourists, business people or | | | | |
| students from Latin America or Spain. With | | | | Most people will have an easier time learning |
| such a large group of Spanish-speaking people | | | | the language that is related in origins to a |
| here, many wonder whether it is easier to | | | | language they already speak. Related |
| learn English or Spanish. You may wonder | | | | languages share many characteristics and this |
| this because you have friends or family that | | | | will often make them easier to learn. These |
| speaks Spanish and you are considering | | | | similar characteristics can make for fewer |
| learning yourself. If you are from Hispanic | | | | new concepts to deal with, whether they have |
| descent or just simply know how to speak | | | | to do with style, grammar or usage. |
| Spanish as well as English, you may be | | | | |
| planning on raising your child or children | | | | Popular Opinion: English vs. Spanish |
| bilingual. If this is the case, you might be | | | | |
| wondering if it is more beneficial to start | | | | Popular opinion, as dictated by a few recent |
| teaching one language prior to teaching the | | | | Yahoo Answers polls, seems to indicate that |
| other or vice versa. No matter the reason, | | | | English is a bit more difficult to learn than |
| if you're wondering if it's easier to learn | | | | Spanish. The chief reason given for this |
| English or Spanish, we will examine some | | | | conclusion is that the English language is |
| factors that may help you answer this | | | | more complicated is the fact that it is full |
| question. | | | | of nuances that are particular to any given |
| | | | case. Examples were given where people whose |
| What Makes One Harder and One Easier? | | | | native language is English still have a hard |
| | | | time mastering the language because o f this |
| Unfortunately there is not cut and dry answer | | | | reason. Other factors cited for why English |
| to which one is easier to learn or even to | | | | may be a more difficult language to learn |
| what makes one language harder to learn than | | | | than Spanish include sentence structure, |
| another language. A lot of what makes a | | | | pronunciation and punctuation. Meanwhile, the |
| language easy or difficult to learn depends | | | | top reason cited as Spanish being difficult |
| on the individual involved. Some of the | | | | to learn was conjugation of verbs. |
| factors in this regard include: | | | | |
| | | | Conclusion |
| - The Individual's Native Language | | | | |
| | | | The conclusion is that there is no definitive |
| If the person learning a new language is an | | | | answer. Whether Spanish or English is easier |
| adult, young person or child who already has | | | | to learn is truly in the eye of the beholder. |
| some sort of language skills, that | | | | It really does depend a lot on the person |
| individual's native language will probably be | | | | actually taking on the new language. So if |
| the single most influential factor in whether | | | | you find yourself as in the case of the |
| Spanish or English is easier to learn. | | | | example given at the beginning of this |
| Languages that are similar to one's native | | | | article, debating whether to teach your child |
| tongue will be easier, and ones that have | | | | English or Spanish first, why not try both? |
| little to no relation will be more difficult. | | | | Or, start out with either first. But if you |
| For example, people who speak French and | | | | have the option, teach them a second language |
| Italian will probably have an easier time | | | | soon...while they're still young. |