Read in Spanish: Dificultades para aprender español
When we decide to study a language other than our native one, we think above all about which language will provide us with the greatest advantages to achieve our purposes. Spanish is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, only surpassed by Mandarin Chinese. However, it is important to know that there are some difficulties in learning Spanish in order to take them into account and not get frustrated during the process.
What are the difficulties in learning Spanish?
All languages have specific characteristics in terms of grammar and phonetics. In this sense, the level of difficulty will have a lot to do with the original language of the person interested in learning Spanish.
For those who speak a Romance language such as Portuguese, French, Italian or Romanian, it will surely be easier for them since these languages come from Latin, just like Spanish; while it may be a bit more complicated for speakers of other languages.
In general terms, we can say that Spanish is a complex language with a very broad vocabulary, which is why it presents certain details that can be difficult to master. Next we explain the most significant ones.
- Verbal System. When conjugating the verbs in Spanish, they change depending on who the subject is, unlike, for example, English in which they are the same, except for the third person singular. The verbs “ser” and “estar” also lend themselves to confusion, since it is not the same to say “Yo estoy trabajando”” as “Yo soy trabajando”.
- Word order. As for the syntax, you have to pay attention to the order of the different elements of the sentences, especially when adjectives are used.
- Nouns ending in “e”.As they are not explicit as the feminine and masculine endings in “a” or “o”, they frequently create confusion such as “el superintendente” or “la corriente”.
- Pronunciation. Although it is considered quite simple, it can be complicated for descendants of Asian countries. Likewise, the sounds of g, j, r, are very strong and it is difficult for learners of Spanish to intonate them correctly.
- Letters ñ, h. They do not exist in other languages or are not used in the same way, which is why they constitute one of the greatest difficulties.
On the other hand, Spanish is a very varied language in terms of dialects with distinctive characteristics, which is not a problem for natives, but it is not so easy for foreigners to assimilate. The Spanish spoken in Spain is different from that of Argentina or the rest of the Latin American countries.The diversity of dialects also implies a wide range in terms of vocabulary and colloquial idioms of the regions, even within the same country.
Learning Spanish is a task that requires effort and dedication, which is why it is crucial to be disciplined. All difficulties can be overcome if you have constancy in the purpose to achieve the expected success.
