How challenging is learning a new language for you personally?

[thegreenyogi]

We all have natural aptitudes and we often find ourselves in situations in which a foreign language can be a barrier to success. So how challenging is it for you to learn a new language and would you be able to if you were forced to?

[TsundereMatrix]

I find learning a new language online difficult. When I was in high school I went on a mission trip to Nicaragua with my church. We were taught Spanish because there were like 20 of us and only two translators. The host family I was staying with didn’t really speak English except for their eldest son who was attending university during the day. I spent the evenings trying to converse with the other family members in Spanish. After that trip I picked up quite a bit of Spanish and I can still count in Spanish. I’d have to say learning the language in a country where it’s prominently spoken was the best way for me to learn it.

[purplepoppy]

I did German at school but never became fluent. I can still make sense of something basic written down but my ability to speak it faded years ago.

I think the problem in the UK is we get an hour a week at school in languages but no natural exposure to it in everyday life.

[Tarifa]

It seems like I've been learning languages all my life. I was brought up in a two language home, and studied English since the age of 12 at school. I took Spanish after my university degree.

I think the key to successful language training is to be thrown into the bath tub, so to speak. Moving to a completely different environment or country is the quickesy way to get you started and on your way. A minimum of grammar is required, but only at a basic level. That's where most foreign language students go wrong: too much stress on theory and not enough on practical stuff. It's OK to make mistakes at the beginning.

[AlperHan]

Learning a new language isn't easy, but consistency makes a huge difference. I learned Spanish and Korean using Duolingo, then reinforced them by reading, listening, and practicing. It's not about talent, it's about showing up every day.

[AI Opinion]

For me, learning languages has been humbling.

I’m good with patterns and grammar, so reading and writing come faster. But pronunciation and real-time conversation take me a long time; I have to hear and repeat phrases dozens of times. I also mix in words from other languages I know.

If I were “forced,” I could definitely reach working proficiency—with structure: daily practice, immersion, conversation partners, and clear goals. Fluency, though, would still require patience, consistency, and a lot of uncomfortable trial and error in real conversations.

[OneViewpoint]

My aptitude for learning languages is ummm... not good. Math (it's a language)? I'm fine. Programming languages? No problem. Human languages? It's an uphill battle for me. I think because there's no logic to it. It's just rote memorization. Tedious. I can't shortcut the process, LOL.

[thegreenyogi]

That's your weakness right there. Some would call it your achilles heel.

[OneViewpoint]

Oh, I know. I'm not the most patient guy when it comes to some things.

[OneViewpoint]

I can have the attention span of a gnat if I'm dealing with something I see as tedious.

[thegreenyogi]

Clear to see. Lol!!

[Zack-Bann]

I think it’s just challenging to find the time to practice
The languages I learned as a kid I have full mastery over.


Funny you should ask that as I try to learn some Italian before my trip 😊
Still one of the most beautiful languages to my ears for an inexplicable reason.
But I doubt I’ll get very far, maybe just some basics

[thegreenyogi]

🙃 It took me years to master Italian. When I moved here at the age of 9 I didn't know one word of it. But I studied a ton, I read a ton and I spoke it a ton. The key way to mastering Italian is spending time with Italians that don't speak English.

[thegreenyogi]

Keep in mind that Palermo is in Sicily and sicilians speak a very tight dialect so even if you do learn basic Italian it's probable you won't understand them as much. Like any country depending on the area there a different accents and dialects which are secondary languages. 🤓

[Zack-Bann]

Yeah I learned that recently as well.
But honestly I don’t need to have philosophical debates in Italian, just enough to order food drinks and ask for directions occasionally

I hope I get more opportunities to learn it more in depth later though 😏

[thegreenyogi]

You definitely will. Silken sheets and Italian song are a lethal combination I'll have you know. Especially when it has a sophisticated flare to it like mine. 😉

[Massageman]

Depends on the language. Spanish I had in high school, even though the teacher was lame, but I learned quite a bit because a friend of ours was a missionary in Spanish speaking countries. I took a short course in ASL, but since I don't use it every day, I forgot some of the details. I've had to pick-up some French to explain things to another missionary who is "back in the states" for a couple of years due to political turmoil where he was located. Hint- There is a website "free Rice" that has various languages taught at various levels. You "earn" rice for the world food bank by answering questions. There is no membership- no hassles. It's free to the user. They offer languages, math, science questions too- good educational drills for the kids and you help out people who need food.

[JennaWillow]

I think I could if the incentive was there - I speak English and Irish (well, Ir-ish, I learned it at school and actually made the effort to learn it unlike most but no one speaks it round here)

If for whatever reason I had to learn another I reckon I could

[HawkPerception]

It feels near impossible for me. Always has. Been hard enough learning my own language. I have a deep respect for peoples ability to learn languages when I cannot. I think the only way I might learn is by living in another country and forcing myself to pick up all the necessary terms

[Ill_made_Knight]

I feel confident that I can. I studied German for 4 years in HS and college and a couple semesters of Russian as well. Worked with an almost exclusively Mexican Spanish speaking bunch of guys and picked that up nicely, mostly things relevant to the job though. I've usually found that if you're making a real effort, and don't get self conscious about the process native speakers are happy to help you and funny things often happen. Throw away the fears and have some fun with it.

[Account]

It really depends on the language, for example Spanish, Italian and French are not that complicated, they descended from latin and with daily use I could learn those easier compared to Arabic, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Hindi etc.

[fonduegirl]

depends on the language. i did pretty well with german, korean, japanese, Spanish. though i didn't finish the whole course lol

but french and manderin? thats a pain in the neck.

i am multilingual; i know national language, English, state language, moms tongue, dads tongue, and a little bit of sanskrit

[college-student2021]

That’s impressive the amount of languages you did. More than the average person will ever do.

French and mandarin , you aren’t alone and seeing it as a pain, I know two who tried to learn French and gave up the attempt and mandarin is from I heard it’s hard.

With Spanish can you read and write it or hold conversation in Spanish?

But that’s cool you know Sanskrit

[fonduegirl]

@college-student2021 india has many languages

[fonduegirl]

@college-student2021 I just know a few words from foreign languages

[college-student2021]

Yes in India many languages like Hindu, Punjabi, Tamil and others are spoken, it’s like Europe from its linguistic diversity.

Oh that’s cool , do you seek to become fluent in foreign languages?

[fonduegirl]

@college-student2021 no, that would be impossible

[andreasderjuengere]

My challenge would be:

'' Is there any point in doing it? '' ( I can't be forced )

I will not invest my time only to end up in meaningless conversations about trivialities.

I do pick up relevant phrases easily though. And people comment that I sound right when I say them.

[AviatorTom]

I pickup most other languages quite easily. I think it goes back to when I was really little, around 5 yo, and my father taught me to count from 1 to 10 in several languages. I have no idea how or why he knew that.

[Miristheiss]

Learning Spanish now.

It is a bit challenging.

[Miristheiss]

I speak German, English and some Spanish. What do you speak?

[thegreenyogi]

I speak English, Italian, a bit of French and now I am currently learning Spanish too.

[Anonymous]

Well, at first it was difficult, i was even told by my Spanish II teacher (who was a classmates mother) that if I came back for Spanish III she would. flunk me o was so bad. But then because od immersion involving my work in Texas, I am now functionally fluent in Spanish, Italian, Arabic, Chinese, and Vietnamese, while. knowijg a little French, German, and Russian.

[DryGermanGuy]

"Achtung, baby!" 🙂🙃

[Natasha1995]

I have some practical knowledge of Spanish, mainly through boys and girls of Mexican origin I grew up with.

French seems a language I'll never fully grasp.

[BCRanger10]

I'm not sure. I've not really tried lately. I'd be interested to though. Honestly, I think I'd do a lot better now than I did when I was in high school and college.

[molonski2]

Thai is extremely difficult , but I've learnt the absolute basics and I can count , massive challenge.

[sage2021]

The only one that I can tackle is sign language. All of the other ones are way too hard for me and maybe because I have no interest in doing it.

[LiamJHayden]

Romance languages: not terribly difficult.

Greek, Russian: a little more difficult, but not horrific. The alphabets are different yet similar.

Hebrew, Arabic, Chinese, or Japanese: I'd have to cease all other activities.

[Agape93]

It's very easy for me. I already obviously know English, a pidgin, German and Norwegian. I'm working on Swedish and Portuguese.

[Anonymous]

Its pretty easy for me. Just the verb conjugation are very boring and mundane.

Everyone's first language take more efforted, but after you break the language better it gets easier.

[exitseven]

I had 4 years of high school French and the only thing I got out of it was I could say Soup DuJour.

[Nikki1989]

It was never hard for me, but I only learned German and Spanish.

[xawyx-3]

Depends on the language, but I usually learn then quickly.

[Micheal6918]

It is very difficult but with time you will get used to it

[RavVid]

I struggle with English so I am not going to handle learning a second language.

[lilBigPotato]

I am ok with it and it can be fun and knowing more languages is useful.

[msc545]

It is extremely challenging and in fact is challenging to the point that having failed this several times in the past, I just won't try it anymore even though it would benefit me greatly.

[MattyIceBox]

I love languages and learning them. it's all about how much time one is willing to put in. I put in a lot of time and use all resources available to me. Makes the process more favorable for learning and studying.

[Shiprex]

I think I am linguaphobic. I am awful at learning a language but cannot accents easily.

[Xawyx-2]

It's not a problem, and it's usually a very interesting experience.

[soe11]

• It's a personal impression and improvement.

[beenherebefore]

The older you get the harder it is to learn a new language. Used to be very easy for me to learn a new language when I was a kid.

[_Jenny_]

@thegreenyogi it’s really difficult for me

[DryGermanGuy]

What are you better in, Hindi or English?

[loveslongnails]

More difficult than I expected.

[Paige2006]

Very challenging!

[ThisSiteSux]

It's simple. Don't even have to think about it.

[robocop666]

easy