When researching about language learning, you’ll inevitably hear some folks refer to the language you want to study as “simple”. They’ll say things like, “Oh, that’s a simple language compared to Mandarin, you’ll pick it up in a month.” But, as anyone who studied a second language knows, you don’t pick up an entire vernacular in a month.
English, for instance, is a very “simple” language. The English alphabet only has 26 letters – certainly much less than that of many other international dialects. Yet, is it really that easy to learn compared to other languages?
According to many language experts, the difficulty of learning a particular vernacular will depend more on its relationship with your native language as opposed to any other innate challenge. If it features sentence structures and grammar constructs that resemble your native tongue, it will undoubtedly be much easier to familiarize with.
Even though you’re studying what is supposed to be a “simple” language, never expect to cruise through it. You’ll still have to go through the same learning phases – mastering the vocabulary, picking up syntax and working through nuances. Chances are, you’ll have just a difficult a time with spoken Korean as you do with spoken French, regardless of which language learning software you use.
Simply put, don’t let appearances fool you. While a language may seem simple, it doesn’t change the fact that you’ll have to work through every facet of it to integrate it into your skillset. Simple is not always easy.