There isn’t any language that is entirely easy and it’s the same with French and German.
Both German and French have their unique sounds, precise pronunciation, and other challenging factors making them beautiful in their own way.
How to determine which one is easier for you?
Learning a language is an art. It requires patience and a lot of commitment. There are no straight answers to indicate if a language is easy or hard; It is highly subjective and may vary for each learner.
There are 3 important factors that determine if a language is going to be easy or hard
1. Your origin and knowledge of other languages
Your native language will determine how comfortable you will get with a new language. If your native language is Spanish or Italian then you will be more likely to find French easier. If you have a Dutch or Danish background then you will be leaning more towards German.
In the same way, your previous experiences with other languages also play a vital role in assessing the difficulty level of French and German.
2. The complexity of the language
French and German come with a certain number of challenges. Let’s analyze the difficult concepts in both these languages.
In the French language pronunciation is one of the most challenging aspects. As a beginner, it can be hard to follow French conversations mostly because the words are shortened or cut down when they speak.
Verb conjugations are simpler and usually fall into 3 categories. However, it is necessary to remember a lot of exceptions that follow a different pattern.
French grammar is easy as long as it stays within the present, past tense, and future circle. The deeper you dive the harder it gets.
On the contrary, the German language has few pronunciation rules. German grammar is hard at the beginning and it gets easier as you learn more.
Spoken German and written German are two different things. Additionally, they have three genders, unlike French which has two.
Overall, it is important to assess your strengths and play according to them.
3. Finding the right materials
There are different ways to learn a language. Some people prefer to learn in a proper institute, some choose to learn on their own, some learn through a private tutor and others through books.
Whether your choice is German or French, make sure you have the right resources that set a solid foundation for you in both these languages. It makes your work 10 times easier.
Once your base is strong, it will be easier for you to move forward with the language.
How to make the process easier?
As discussed in the beginning, learning a language isn’t going to be entirely easy. Though you have picked out a relatively easy language to learn it still requires a lot of effort and practice.
The good news is it’s still doable and worthwhile when you know the simple tricks to make it easier and enjoyable.
There are 3 important lessons to keep in mind when you find French or German hard
1. It is not another subject
One of the biggest mistakes is treating a language like another subject. Language is not a book to memorize. It is a mode of communication and expression.
Find a French or German-speaking community, build connections and develop relationships. By speaking every day, you get access to a lot of things that are not listed in any textbooks.
It improves your fluency and proficiency in the language thereby making it easier.
2. Learning pattern
Most linguists claim German to be hard in comparison with French. It is probably because we still follow the old-school method.
We cannot learn every language in the same way. We start with the alphabet for one language, grammar, or vocabularies for another. I started learning English with the alphabet but I started learning French with articles.
So, the next time you find a language hard try revising your learning pattern.
3. Similarities
Although languages are unique, they all share some similarities. Another way to make your learning process easier is to find similarities between German and French or with any of the previously learned languages.
German and French share some similar grammar concepts. Few words in German have their origin in French. Learning both languages clears a lot of concepts in English.
If you know Dutch, you can find a lot of lexical similarities between Dutch and German. On the other hand, Spanish is close to French in vocabulary and syntax due to its Latin origin.
What’s your choice?
The process of learning a language doesn’t end. Therefore, it is made easier when you make your process enjoyable. You can always choose the easiest language or find ways to make the language easier. The choice is yours!
