Which language is the most difficult and which is the easiest to learn? The most difficult and easiest languages ​​to learn The easiest foreign language

IN modern world knowledge of one foreign language is already the norm, not highest degree education. That is why people who strive for constant development often do not stop at knowing just one language, but strive to speak others. But not every polyglot will undertake the study of a truly complex dialect - for example, Asian, which can be studied for several decades, and then not fully understood... Wondering which language is the easiest, many interested people sort through various options, not knowing why What language will it be easy to learn and will be useful? If you want to expand your horizons and understand more than one foreign language, then we offer you a convenient selection of the easiest languages ​​in the world.

English

In part, it can be said that English is considered one of the easiest languages ​​to learn due to its global prevalence throughout the world. In addition, there is a generally accepted stereotype that the easiest dialects in the world are all similar to English, and since most people are taught it from childhood, it should not be difficult to learn them. In fact, everything is somewhat different: if the speech of several foreigners is similar to each other, it is thanks to common roots in Latin (as they say, learn Latin and pronounce it with different accents - and that’s it, you know all European dialects and dialects), and English seems simple due to its lack of cases and word forms, and its simple grammar (tell that to a school kid who needs to cram all tenses!). Whatever it is, whether it is difficult or easy to learn English, it will definitely come in handy - after all, as many as sixty countries speak it! The most famous English-speaking countries today are Great Britain, the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, India and some African countries that are former British colonies. English is considered one of the simplest only because, due to its demand, it begins to be taught as early as to school age.

Without any skills English language It's hard to get a job now

French

Another European language that has become widespread beyond its borders, French is officially spoken by 18 countries: France itself, Switzerland, Belgium, Canada, as well as many small African countries, where French is first or second state language. In fact, it is one of the easiest languages ​​to learn if a person has previously studied English - the most difficult part will be learning the grammatical features and pronunciation.

Otherwise, there shouldn’t be any difficulties: compared to Asian or Scandinavian languages, French is one of the easiest languages ​​in the world, and you can find opportunities to study it almost everywhere - there are many French language schools along with English, and in educational institutions He is now far from being in last place.

The French speak very colorfully, and achieving the appropriate accent can be difficult

Spanish

Spanish is one of the most popular languages ​​in the whole world, along with English and Chinese (the latter received this title solely because large quantity residents in China itself).

If you speak one of the European dialects (English, French or Italian), then it will not be difficult for you to get used to Spanish: it is one of the easiest languages ​​in the world due to the lack of cases, Latin roots of the vocabulary and even fairly simple pronunciation.

Everyone speaks Spanish Latin America(except Brazil), and, what is most surprising, Spain itself cannot boast of the largest number of speakers!

The largest number Mexico boasts a Spanish-speaking population of about one hundred and thirty million people. Due to its proximity to Mexico and the large number of immigrants in the United States, Spanish is actively studied and taught in secondary schools, and Spanish speech itself can often be found on the streets of Louisiana or California.

Unlike, for example, French, Spanish speech is easier to understand, and even a child can handle it

It is surprising that world experts, when asked which language is the easiest to learn, unanimously answer: “Esperanto,” although no one has ever seen native speakers of this language from whom one could “learn easily.” And he won’t see it, because Esperanto is a “language of the world”, artificially created on the basis of common European dialects and dialects of the Romance group. It does not have “its own” nationality, there are no countries in which it would be official, it was created as a universal means of communication to make it easier for Europeans to understand each other. And since for all the people of the world Esperanto is foreign language, it was created as one of the simplest (or rather, the simplest), and it lacks grammar and spelling (all words are written exactly the same as they are perceived by ear), and word formation has no exceptions and is built according to a template. Linguists say that you can speak Esperanto fluently in just about four weeks, and in three to six months you can learn it perfectly.

Artificial language recently turned 130 years old, and a petition was published proposing to make it the official language of the European Union

Considering the easiest languages ​​of the world, one cannot go unnoticed by the fact that they are all European and are of Latin origin. It is believed that the most difficult thing is to learn your first foreign language (even when taught at school age, it does not “overlap” well, especially if the teacher is not a native speaker), but subsequent European adverbs “lay on” each other, and it is easier to memorize vocabulary and pronunciation using associative level. Esperanto is generally unsettled, while being the easiest in the world - and all because it was specially created on the basis European languages to make it easier for Europeans to understand each other.

Many people who want to learn at least one foreign language want to make the learning process as simple as possible. But it’s worth considering one nuance: you should choose a language to study based on how much you like it. You should enjoy the learning process, and in no way should it be torture, otherwise there will be little use. And, of course, without motivation in this matter it will not be possible to achieve success.

But still, if someone wants to choose an easy language, then first they need to decide how simple a particular language is. Scientists have conducted a lot of research in this area to compile a list that includes the most simple languages.

So, according to linguists, it will be easier for English-speaking people to learn languages ​​belonging to the Latin group and the Germanic branch. To learn one of these languages, an Englishman, for example, will need to devote about 600 hours to studying. But if the choice of an English-speaking person was German, then due to the complex grammar, approximately 750 hours will have to be allocated to classes.

By the way, English itself is included in the list of simple languages. There are no cases or genders, there is no difficulty in agreeing words in sentences, and the grammar will be simpler than in many other languages. The vast majority of words are short, and the form of verbs changes only in the 3rd person.

Native English speakers themselves react quite calmly to mistakes in the speech of foreigners speaking their language. Many people choose to study English, but not only because it is relatively simple, but because of its popularity.

Linguists also consider Italian to be a simple language. This language has many words with Latin roots, which means that it will be much easier for people who know one of the Indo-European languages. Italian also has no cases, and mastering its pronunciation is usually not difficult.

Spanish is one of the easiest languages ​​to learn. The language itself has many similarities with Italian. Difficulties rarely arise in spelling, since Spanish words are written the same way as they are heard. Pronunciation and grammar in this language are relatively simple.

For many people, the French language is also not particularly difficult. Many French words are similar to English ones. The language is widely used and can be learned relatively quickly if desired.

Esperanto is also considered a very simple language. Everything in it is written the same way as it is heard. The simplicity of this language is easy to explain: it was created artificially and the creators tried to make it simple. But compared to other languages, not many people use it. True, if you speak Esperanto, it will be much easier to learn other foreign languages.

When we decide to learn a foreign language, we look for one that is easier and easier to remember. Which language is the easiest to learn? It depends on your passion for a particular country. Easier to learn for anime lovers Japanese, fans of k-pop music consider Korean an easy language. For some, French seems like a beautiful language, which adds incentive to learning it.

The similarity of your language with a foreign language, similar sound and spelling is also important. For native Russian speakers, it is easier to learn English or French than Arabic or Thai.

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According to various surveys, the easiest language to learn is considered Italian. It is very romantic and widespread in the world. It is spoken by about 60 million people. The pronunciation is quite simple, it has Latin roots, so it will be easy to learn for representatives of the Indo-European group.

Reading rules Italian language elementary, easy phonetics compared to other languages. Dialogues are quickly memorized, so in a month you can learn to express yourself clearly. Even if it is wrong, confusing prepositions, but people who know the language will understand you without difficulty.

Having learned the rules of reading, you can immediately read and write without referring to transcriptions and exceptions to the rules. You remember very quickly how to say a word correctly. The grammar of the Italian language is logical and orderly. Moreover, in Russian and Italian many words are consonant, which will greatly facilitate learning.

IN given language Nouns have no cases, only 2 genders - masculine and feminine, which differ in ending.

Difficulties may arise when using articles, since they are absent in the Russian language. But the main difficulty of Italian is the verb. He has a whole series tenses that do not exist in Russian. The Italian verb has 8 indicative tenses, 2 conditional tenses and subjunctive mood with 4 times. If you immediately remember this and understand the principle of substitution of certain letters, then you will be able to speak Italian at the level of native speakers.

The more foreign languages ​​you know, the easier Italian will seem. English and Spanish will especially help you, they have similar grammar.

Every language has its pitfalls. There is no language in which there is absolutely nothing complex. It is important not to give up, not to lose inspiration, and to immediately understand incomprehensible stages. Communication with native speakers, watching films, music, books in the language you are learning will help you master it. Practice every day, don't make excuses. Without all this, it is impossible to learn a foreign language.

Knowledge of a foreign language, and ideally several, has become a great necessity. First of all, it is prestigious. Secondly, it develops intelligence, and thirdly, it is useful for many areas of human life. You will especially need new knowledge if you work in an area that involves partnerships with foreign partners. Sometimes even your favorite hobby forces you to learn one or another foreign language. Therefore, we can say with confidence that foreign languages ​​open new doors for a person, provide more prospects and chances to realize oneself in life and achieve success. This is an opportunity for career development, study abroad, access to previously inaccessible information and simply mental training.

One of the easiest and most accessible ways to learn a foreign language is online learning. You can find inexpensive or even free training options. Once you have already learned the basics of the language, you will need to dive into language environment. The most interesting and useful option is an internship abroad, where you can practice the language and also gain new experience in your specialty.

Which foreign language should I choose to study?

What language is the easiest to learn, and what should you pay attention to? These questions are asked by people who plan to study a foreign language.

It should be noted that the most important and important thing when learning any foreign language is motivation. You need to understand for yourself whether you like speaking and communicating in one language or another or not? This directly determines which language will be the easiest and easiest to learn for you. German, French, Polish or... Japanese. If you need to learn a language that is not interesting to you, then learning it will seem very difficult, even if in theory it is completely wrong. Learning something new, like everything else, should only bring pleasure, intrigue, and interest. Otherwise there will be no sense.

The simplest and easiest languages ​​in the world to learn

Research from the US Department of Foreign Affairs has shown that the easiest languages ​​to learn are those that require no more than 600 hours of classroom instruction. Anything longer than the stated time is very difficult to master.

English is the easiest language to learn

So which language is the simplest? We managed to find out that many people find English the simplest and most understandable. There are no cases at all, no genders, no word agreement, and the grammar is quite simple and understandable. This language is widespread as it is spoken in almost every country in the world. The words in it are clear, short, easy to pronounce, and the verbs change exclusively for the third person.

Native English speakers are calm about the mistakes of tourists and visitors, because many people study English as a second language. The easiest way to learn a foreign language is in a specialized school, but you can easily master new speech using the global network. English language online study for beginners it opens up many opportunities, since in this way you can achieve great results in a few months.

Italian is easy to learn

Italian takes second place in terms of simplicity. It is also simple, because it has no cases, is easy to pronounce, and the vocabulary has Latin roots, in other words, it will be familiar to those people who speak languages ​​of the Indo-European group.

Spanish as a foreign language

Third place belongs to Spanish. It turns out to be the easiest language to learn. It is similar to English, has simple spelling and grammar, and is widely used.

French is not difficult to learn online

French is also not difficult. Many of his words are similar to English. This is what allows you to learn French in the shortest possible time. This language is important historical significance, since it was the first language (before English) spoken by a huge number of the population. It is still considered the second most popular language in the world; it is spoken by 130 million people. Most of them live in France, and the rest in the Maghreb and West Africa.

There are many options to learn this language, for example, via Skype. French Online learning will bring great pleasure, since learning the love language with a native speaker is extremely simple and interesting. “Live” communication will help you speak this amazing language in a matter of days, a maximum of a week.

Esperanto

But don’t forget about other equally easy foreign languages. For example, artificial Esperanto. In it, just like in Spanish, everything is extremely simple; words are written as they are heard. It is an invented language created back in 1887, and for this reason it is really easy to understand and learn. The only bad thing about it is that very few people speak Esperanto.

Thus, we can distinguish a whole group of the easiest languages ​​that can be easily learned if you really want to:

1. English;
2. Italian;
3. Spanish;
4. French;
5. Esperanto.

But, if the above languages ​​are easy to learn, you cannot reject other languages ​​that are very popular among people.

Polish

This language is studied for various reasons. Tourists who love Poland, the beauty of its nature and architecture, and the friendliness of the people learn Polish in order to better understand this country. Some people want to read giants of world literature such as Adam Mickiewicz and Henryk Sienkiewicz in their native language. And some people learn Polish because it relates to Slavic languages, so for Russian speakers, learning Polish will seem like a very simple task. Polish online learning will be an exciting adventure that will take the student into interesting world incredibly beautiful language.

Greek

If someone says that Greek very difficult - don't listen. Only some people, such as the English, find it difficult to learn Greek. It is difficult for them to understand that the table is masculine and the stand is feminine. Their language does not have genders of nouns or declensions of nouns by case, unlike Russian grammar, which is very similar to Greek. As in Russian, in Greek nouns are feminine, masculine and neuter. All nouns are inflected, and verbs are of the first and second conjugation. The exception is articles, which are in Greek, but not in Russian. Anyone who has heard Greek speech will agree that this language is very beautiful. It flows like music. Reading literature in Greek, you never cease to be pleasantly surprised and admire the beauty of the phrases. Learning Greek online is very easy, especially if you really want to.

German as a popular language

Learning German online is as easy as learning any other language. This language is one of the most widespread in Europe and the world as a whole. It is spoken in Germany, Liechtenstein, Austria, partly in Belgium, Switzerland and Luxembourg. German - official language European Union. So why not learn it, at least for these reasons? German speech can be heard in America, Poland and even Kazakhstan. The language is not inferior in its demand to English. He is very interesting and unique. At first, a student may experience misunderstanding of dull German sounds, but over time this feeling will disappear.

It follows from this that one language cannot be called complex and another simple. To thoroughly master a foreign language, you just need to want it, and also seek help from the professionals to whom the center belongs distance learning″Extern″. This is where they will help you learn any foreign language based on basic knowledge student. Each person will be matched individual program training and methodology.

The first thing you should do is learn English. The second is German. Knowing English and German, you can learn French without any problems, since the lexical base will already be laid. But they will be of practically no use to you when living, say, in the UAE. And you won't be able to use them if you go to work in China or Uganda.

In China, only a few people can communicate in English, and in Uganda, knowledge of Swahili is especially urgently needed - less than 1% of the population speaks English here. We recommend assessing not the global prospects of the language, but its prospects for you, for your future life and work. How to do this, what languages ​​you need to learn and how to compare them with your own priorities? More on this later.

Which language to learn first

English. With rare exceptions, which only confirm the rule. It is the official language in more than 60 countries around the world. English is spoken by more than 1.5 billion people around the world. It is native to more than 700 million people. Look around - the best songs, scripts of TOP films, documents, instructions - all this is written in English. Knowledge of it significantly increases your chances of employment and your value as a qualified employee, no matter what industry you work in or what your responsibilities include.

5 reasons to learn English first:

• Opportunity to clarify in most countries of the world.
• Best for travel and business trips abroad.
• The opportunity to watch the best Hollywood films in the original.
• An advantage when getting an education and building a career.
• The opportunity not to encounter language barriers in everyday life.

It is the most popular language in the world. Moreover, it is universal and applicable in most situations.

Example: you want to go to study abroad, say, in Italy, but you don’t know Italian. Knowledge of English will allow you to choose a program in which you can use a known foreign language for training as a base one. But if you only know German or French, then the chance of getting an education in Italy tends to zero.

But there are exceptions. They consist in individual characteristics every person. If English is not good for you, if you feel sincere hatred for learning it, if you don’t understand logic, there is no point in torturing yourself. Of course, if these are just your feelings, and not the mediocrity of the teacher and incorrectly structured preparation.

Example: singer Shakira knows many languages, but English was the hardest for her. Despite an IQ close to genius and phenomenal learning abilities, the Colombian native still does not speak English perfectly and prefers to sing and speak it only in extreme cases.

TOP 5 places where you can learn English online

	EnglisDom - free introductory lesson +2 lessons using promo code enboxA192 Online school of the new generation English language. The teacher communicates with the student via Skype, and the lesson takes place in a digital textbook. Personal training program.
	Inglex - 3 free lessons Using promotional code WELCOME. English language school via Skype. Strong Russian-speaking teachers and native speakers from the UK and USA. Maximum conversation practice.
	SkyEng - free trial lesson The largest online English language school, which provides the opportunity to learn English individually with a Russian-speaking teacher or native speaker.
	Improve your English skills by studying at game form. Master grammar, expand vocabulary, learn to understand by ear.
	Lingualeo - free registration An interactive online service for learning and practicing English in a fun way. Effective training, word translation, crosswords, listening, vocabulary cards.

What language should you learn as your second, third, or fourth language?

There is no need to guess here - it is important to be guided by desires, needs and the tasks facing you. Motivation is the basis for fast and successful learning. You must clearly understand why you need it and at what level you need to master it. It is recommended to formulate goals and only then begin to consider options.

Let's assume that after graduating from college you want to enroll in one of the Czech universities for a master's program. Then it’s worth learning Czech. Or in your city there is a factory owned by the Japanese - to make a successful career as a manager here, knowledge of Japanese is desirable. We know nothing about the tasks facing you. Therefore, we can offer only the TOP 7 languages ​​(besides English), which are most often chosen for study:

1. French.
2. Spanish.
3. Chinese.
4. Italian.
5. Arab.
6. Norwegian.

Let's make a reservation that Scandinavian languages ​​are among the most complex in the world. If you are planning to move to Norway or Sweden but are having trouble learning Norwegian and Swedish, consider your options. It's no secret that Sweden is quite loyal to emigrants, not those who know the language. Moreover, children have the right to be taught in their native language: if there is at least one Russian-speaking child in the school, then they will definitely find a Russian-speaking teacher for him. Therefore, be sure to clarify the need for training.

TOP 5 most promising languages

If you do not set yourself the goal of moving or frequently traveling to a certain country, working in multinational enterprises and being in demand as a translator, then we recommend paying attention to the most promising languages ​​in the world. They may not be the most in demand and not the most popular on at the moment time. But if you don’t know which foreign language is better to learn in terms of its prospects in the future, this rating is especially for you.

Chinese

The most common in the world. No one doubts the prospects of the Celestial Empire in terms of economic and industrial development. Strong contacts with Russia, the USA and other leading economies of the world lead to the emergence of a mass of multinational enterprises where knowledge of Chinese is highly welcome. Chinese is made up of at least 10 radically different dialects. It makes sense to learn literary (it is also called Mandarin or Northern Chinese) - you can communicate in it with a speaker of any dialect.

Spanish

It ranks third in terms of prevalence among all languages ​​of the world. It is also one of the easiest to learn. It is used not only in Spain, but also in many countries that were once colonies. Not all of them are alike - for example, in Mexico they speak a special dialect of Spanish called Español mexicano. There are significant differences, but if necessary, you can speak classic Spanish with any Mexican and they will understand you.

German

Germany is one of the strongest economies in the world, one of the most developed and comfortable countries for living. Therefore, the language has not lost its promise for more than a century. German is spoken not only in Germany, but also in Austria, Switzerland, and a number of other European countries. It is especially promising for employment and emigration to Europe.

Arab

It ranks 4th in terms of prevalence in the world. More than 240 million people speak it in different parts of the world. The difficulty is that the language has a lot of local dialects, and studying classical Arabic does not guarantee that you will understand them. However, you will be understood - you will be able to express yourself not only as a tourist, but also as a specialist.

Japanese

Japanese is the official language only in Japan, but in to varying degrees it is in demand in at least 25 Asian countries. By the way, it has a minimum of similarities with Chinese; you should not combine the study of these two languages, mistakenly assuming their identity. From the point of view of prospects, it is worth noting the development of the state’s economy and the scientific industry. Japan is one of the world leaders in terms of GDP.

What foreign language should I learn to emigrate?

Naturally, this depends on the country to which you plan to emigrate. Our advice will only be relevant if you have not yet decided on your future place of residence.

We are guided by information about the most popular countries for emigration among Russians. Which languages ​​should you learn according to this data:

• English – most often Russians prefer to emigrate to the USA. It is also in demand for admission to universities in the USA, Great Britain, Canada and a number of other countries. special programs and grants covering training costs.
• German and French are ideal if you want to emigrate to these countries and stay there after completing your studies. Education in these countries is practically free (except for mandatory fees of 300-500 euros per semester).
• Italian is required for immigration to Italy. Interestingly, the level of English proficiency in this country is almost at the same level as in Russia. In general, Italians, unlike many Europeans, do not speak English well.

Also popular destinations for emigration are the Scandinavian countries - Sweden, Norway, Denmark. Russian citizens are also willing to emigrate to European countries– to Switzerland, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Serbia, and the Baltic countries. But according to surveys, less than 10% of Russians ready to emigrate plan to go to Asia.

What foreign language should a child learn?

Here again, it is important to be guided by the child’s living conditions. You shouldn’t choose the simplest language – choose the most promising one. At the same time, observe the child’s enthusiasm and desire to learn. If you see that he is absolutely indifferent to learning, change the tutor or place of study. If the result remains the same, it makes sense to choose another language to study. The most popular are English, French, German and Spanish. The native languages ​​of the parents (or one of the parents) should not be taken into account.

Which language is better to study as an additional language? It makes sense to pay attention to options with the simplest grammar - Italian, French.

Teachers disagree on whether a child should even learn two languages ​​at the same time. It is important to monitor the condition of children - they should not be overloaded. You shouldn’t take away their childhood, guided only by your own ambitions and the desire to get a well-rounded child prodigy. Observe your child's attitude towards educational process– his desire is extremely important.

The easiest and most difficult languages ​​to learn

The starting position is important here: for example, knowledge of English will significantly simplify the study of languages ​​of the Latin and Germanic groups. Your native language. It's no secret that the easiest languages ​​for Russians to learn are Ukrainian and Belarusian, Bulgarian and Serbian. However, they cannot yet be called promising in a global sense. Therefore, we note the easiest European ones to study:

• English.
• Italian.
• Spanish.
• French.

Spanish is considered to be the simplest language - it is characterized by simplicity of spelling, grammar and pronunciation. As it is heard, so it is written, there is no need to be afraid of making mistakes. Ideally, if you know English - Spanish has a very similar vocabulary, and learning will go as quickly as possible. The second and third places are Italian and French, respectively. English is more difficult, but also quite accessible.

It is from him that all dialects were formed, so even if you move to a country where pure language variations are not practiced, you can quickly adapt. In the classic version it is also easiest to trace the logic of word formation and sentence construction. It is often clearer and more pleasing to the ear. Almost always it is literary and official for the preparation of documents.

Conclusion

Learn the languages ​​that you need and are interested in. Without necessity there is no motivation, and without sincere interest there is no desire. Both of these components form the basis for successful learning. There is no point in studying when the process only causes you tension and irritation. You must genuinely enjoy learning. You must understand why you are studying this particular language, what prospects it opens up for you, and what it allows you to do in the future.

If you don’t know which languages ​​are worth learning right now, try to look into the future. Figure out where you want to live and what you want to do. Choose English as a base and master it at a decent level. If you already speak English, move on to others. But be careful - only some people are able to study French and, say, German at the same time. In other cases, separate training is required.

Maria Kositsyna

Editor of the Info-Profi portal, head of the center for supporting student projects at Tyumen State University.