Is it hard to learn Spanish? 5 reasons it’s easier than you think

Spanish has risen as one the most popular foreign languages to learn. In the US, it is the most chosen language to learn in high schools. It’s also the second most popular -right below English- in European countries such as France, Norway and Sweden. 

I’m sure you are already aware of the importance of Spanish if you’re already looking into learning it. But before starting, now you’re probably wondering how hard it is? “Is it really something I can learn, or am I about to get into a complete nightmare?!”

Fear no more. Spanish is actually one of the easiest languages for English native speakers. In today’s blog, I’ll give you five reasons to convince you about it: 

1. It’s the same alphabet

Other languages such as Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Russian… requires you to learn a completely different code than the letters you’re already used to in English. That for sure makes the process way challenging. When I started learning Japanese, for instance, we spent at least the first three months just learning not only one but two new alphabets. While students from other languages, at the same amount of time, were already reviewing more complex conversations. 

On top of that, along the way, you need to memorize kanjis (their character writing system). To be considered a “basic” speaker you must learn at least 2000 kanjis. And over 6K if you want to achieve a “literated” level. Can you imagine?

With Spanish that’s not an issue at all. While some of them will have a different sound and while Spanish has some “extra ingredients” such as accents, they are the same vowels and consonants you have seen your entire life. 

2. It shares several grammar similarities with English

English and Spanish, despite being from different language families (Germanic and Romance, respectively), share several similarities thanks to historical interactions and influences. 

Besides sharing the Latin alphabet, they have many similar words as they come from the same root. For example, «information» in English is «información» in Spanish. 

Spanish it’s also easier to learn because both languages use similar sentence structures: Subject-Verb-Object (SVO). Unlike other languages, where it’s tricky to get used to their different sequence. 

• Spanish and English most common order: Subject-Verb-Object (SVO)
• Japanese order: Subject Object Verb. For example: «Watashi wa sushi o tabemasu» (I sushi eat) 

3. Spanish has similar sounds to English

Spanish and English share similar phonetics. In both languages, many sounds are produced with the lips, teeth, and front of the mouth. Unlike other languages, like Arabic or French, where many sounds come from the throat and have several guttural sounds, making them more challenging for English speakers to master as they are not used to that “movement”. 

4. You get more chances to practice because there are so many Spanish speakers around

The USA has a super high Hispanic and Latino population. This can really help you pick up Spanish as you’re basically surrounded by the language all the time. You hear Spanish everywhere, like in shops, restaurants and even on signs and ads. 

Unlike other languages where there’s not much population that speaks it, with Spanish you’ll have a constant exposure that lets you get used to the language naturally, just by hearing and seeing it in everyday life, making it easier to learn than other languages.

If you’re from the UK, even when there are not many Spaniards or Latinos as other nationalities, you still have a pretty good chance to practice your Spanish more easily thanks to your proximity with Spain. Spain has been by far and away the preferred holiday destination for brits for many years. And in only a 2-hours-flight you can be there in your next vacay to practice.  

5. You’re already speaking Spanish without realizing it

Especially in the USA, you might be speaking Spanish without even noticing it! That’s because some regions were once part of Mexico, and a lot of the names stuck around. For example, places like Los Angeles (The Angels in Spanish) or Santa Fe (Saint Faith) have Spanish names. Even some states, like Nevada (Snowfall).

So, as you can see, you’re already used to the Spanish sounds, making it easier to speak if you decide to start learning it. Besides this, thanks to the large Hispanic and Latino population in the USA, many Spanish words and phrases have become part of everyday conversations for Americans. You have probably used these words without even a second thought, but are in fact in Spanish. For instance: “patio” (backyard in Spanish), “solo” (alone), “pronto” (soon). 

There are other commonly used phrases said by Americans, such as “Mi casa es tu casa”.  (Which, by the way, it’s not actually common among native speakers . Believe me. I was born and raised in Mexico. I have lived here my entire life. So I can tell you for a fact it’s not a thing in Mexico…)

That’s actually one of the main problems with most schools and books. They teach you either a pretty formal way of talking, or phrases no one actually uses. If you want a more native-speaker approach, contact us! We have private lessons starting at 25 USD!

Conclusions

Spanish has many similarities to English and is more present in your life, which means you can immerse yourself more and learn faster and more smoothly compared to other languages. So, it’s easier to pick up!

Learning any language takes commitment and time though. No matter how easy it is. It’s still a process that requires patience, practice, and perseverance.

If you’re ready to start your Spanish journey, check out our online lessons plans, with a Spanish native speaker tutor! 

• We teach the local way of talking: slang, idioms, cultural references, social norms… everything you need to sound like a native speaker!

• We focus on conversational Spanish. We make you speak since day one, practicing conversations for real-life scenarios.

• We personalize the lessons for your level and goals. It’s a 1:1 lesson tailored to your needs for only up to 25 USD!