Is English a Hard Language to Learn?
By NailTech
@NailTech (6874)
United States
January 13, 2013 12:04pm CST
I mean we have different meanings for our words in English. I can give a few examples right off the bat. Phrases too like the one I just said about a bat. A bat can be an animal or a item used in playing baseball. Then we have the word "play" which can mean something kids do with their toys or something we can all go see done on a stage. They are just a few of the many examples.
Then we have big show offs who like to use kind of "big words" and spell them wrong, haha. Such as someone I just saw type the word "steller". Hahaha, they did correct themselves and spell it the right way which is "stellar". My mom was out on the porch still with my other family just coming home from a Dr appt tyhe other day when I was in the kitchen baking some banana bread. I heard her say "I can smell bakin." I then told her that I don't have any bacon in this banana bread. LOL. Another play on words there. I thought she meant bacon and not bakinggggggggggg. 
Have you had other word confusion to talk about lately?? 
Have you had other word confusion to talk about lately?? 3 people like this
15 responses
@blessedsavie (178)
• Philippines
13 Jan 13
Before, I thought that learning and being fluent in English is very hard. But it changed my view when I became a call center agent. Training did a lot of help to me. It exposed me more to the English language. I learned sentence construction, thought organization, pronunciation, vocabulary and a lot more. I guess we just have to practice more often and exert extra effort in learning the English language.
1 person likes this
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32748)
• Calgary, Alberta
13 Jan 13
I never had hard time learning English growing up, maybe because I watch American shows as a kid and that really helped me. The languages where we have to learn new alphabets like Mandarin, Japanese, Russian,Hebrew, and Arabic seemed harder to learn.
Then there is the irish language, its such a beautiful language but its so hard to learn that average Irish people cant speak it even if its thought on school.
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32748)
• Calgary, Alberta
14 Jan 13
One time I tried learning Irish Gaelic , well i learned how to read and pronounced their words but I cant memorize the world and I struggle to construct a sentence.
@laken02 (3065)
• United States
13 Jan 13
that is a good point you made.. going a different way of thinking here,
for me im more about grammar or the way we say things.. my ex husband use
to say i had a language of my own.. i came from a small town and we used slang words like we would say tater for potatoe .. or sack for a bag,, or buggy
for cart.. a stove burner is an eye.. i know that was not the point you were trying to make sorry just made me think of that.. have fun :)
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
14 Jan 13
because even within english-speaking countries, there are regional differences.
so how did the stove burner came to be called an eye? on the other hand, do you have other terms for eye?
@mariaperalta (19073)
• Mexico
13 Jan 13
Its harder to learn english than spanish I think. Spanish isnt so hard to learn. And english like you say , has so many words like you said. How about sun and son?
@NailTech (6874)
• United States
14 Jan 13
I have no idea about other languages anymore. I have only a few words that I know in Spanish. I tried to learn German in HS but failed miserably. I think those two words you used are classic other examples of how out English language is quite confusing. I give Kudos to everyone who has learned it after their own native language.
@reddog25770 (212)
• United States
13 Jan 13
English is my native language, but I think it would be really hard to learn. There is too many words with double meanings. Like you mentioned above. There is also a lot of words with silent letters. Like knew and know. And then there are words that sound the same and mean completely different things. Like great and grate.
@NailTech (6874)
• United States
14 Jan 13
I think that too. There sure are to many words like that, I am no longer going to be frustrated with people (not that I did before!) who can't speak fluent English. The silent letters wasn't even a thought but now that you mention it it is one too. And the same meaning and sounds too. You are so right on that.
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
13 Jan 13
I would imagine that it is due to the fact that it has developed as a hybrid from many sources over the millennia. As a result it is a very odd mixture with irregular verbs and totally non phonetic spelling.
Since I am English then it was naturally much easier for me due to the regular contact on a daily basis from birth, but for someone trying to learn it as second language it must be extremely difficult.
@LadyDD (515)
• Romania
14 Jan 13
English is not so easy to learn, but there are so many online resources that can be of great help. The secret is to listen, read and write in English as much as you can. Then living for a period in an English speaking country will be of great help.
@meumeu25 (917)
• United Arab Emirates
16 Jan 13
Hi :),
For me it's easier to learn English than other languages, because in my country we have English lessons in school, even though we don't really use it regularly. I have to admit I still have trouble with grammar and spellings, I know I still a lot to learn . I noticed even people who speak English since they started to speak doesn't know the meaning of some words. I heard one person said brang instead of brought, when I asked what's brang, he said it's the past tense of bring. 
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. I noticed even people who speak English since they started to speak doesn't know the meaning of some words. I heard one person said brang instead of brought, when I asked what's brang, he said it's the past tense of bring. .
@AkamaruKei (5219)
• Malaysia
14 Jan 13
Dont know to say it is hard or not i think it's not hard and not easy. English is my second language. I'm also try to learn Japanese and Korean language. Both of this language is very hard for me. I'm always confused with the word weather and whether. Maybe when you read this you want to laugh with my english.
@edvc77 (2140)
• Philippines
14 Jan 13
Yes, English is quite hard to learn. You have to consider many things and there are many exceptions to the rules. There are many idioms too. English can be formal or slang. It depends on how you are going to use it and what are the words you are going to say and use. Actually, it is my second language. To be fluent in English one should speak and write it always.
Have a nice day!
@bhelle76 (353)
• Canada
14 Jan 13
English is my secocnd language and it's true is difficult. My husband is an Irish Canadian so his first language is english, so it is just natural for him. For the first three years of our married, we always have a long long discussion when it comes to English langauge because of my accent and most of the times the grammar. I feel embarrased and tried to improve it. Well, when I go back to school my english markings are good but still I am confused...
@inopiratum_a_medio12 (877)
•
14 Jan 13
ha ha that's funny, yes english sometimes is confusing especially when it is not pronounce right and from the construction of sentence but it is not that hard to learn just needed some practice and a lot of sharing for improvement
@MaylaJay (349)
•
13 Jan 13
We always have word confusion in our house. :) I had a Romanian friend who needed help learning to read English. She had a lot of trouble with words that I thought were easy like "without" or "scary". She wanted to pronounce them different ways than we do. It's very interesting to talk to someone who learned English as a second language.
