I agree with the last point, every language has its own difficulties and yet learning multiple languages become a bit easier when we can relate to certain things (say grammar points or usage of a certain word) from previously learnt(ing) languages. Interesting post!
Thank you so much for researching and sharing this. Until recently, I always thought multilingualism was a pipe dream. I had a Sisyphean start-stop relationship with French for years, but once I changed my approach to language learning it took off. Now I’m dabbling with Italian, and love reading about the science behind acquiring a third language. I’d been worried that because my French isn’t perfect, Italian would serve as a distraction. Fortunately, that doesn’t seem to be the case! Thanks again! Or should I say … merci and grazie?
I'm glad you found it useful! I was so skeptical to write this at first cause I felt like I was nerding out too much. 😅 I think waiting until you perfect your French before diving head on with Italian may be too strict. I know some people who use their second language to learn their third. De rien and prego!
In my experience, the more you learn, the better you get at learning in general. It's hidden in the small things as well: getting comfortable with making mistakes, overcoming speaking anxiety, getting over perfectionism when immersing... It never gets easier, you're just getting better!
What I appreciate about language learning is how it can be so demanding that it pushes you to establish good study habits and routines, all while showing yourself grace. So yes, it never gets easier, you definitely just get better!
Now that I have joined the multilingual club I have perspectives on the difficulty of languages. For me, lack of resources have been the biggest challenge when learning a language. It's what has made learning Cantonese and Icelandic "hard".
I'll speak more about Mandarin and French since they are the two I have spent the most time with (besides Cantonese). Most people would say that Mandarin is more difficult than French for English speakers. While I can understand why this is the common opinion, I found Mandarin more enjoyable to learn at the start than I did French.
Now that my French is getting close to my level in Mandarin, I still prefer the learning process of Mandarin. I wouldn't say one is harder than the other, it's more just that the process I engage in to learn each language is different. French has conjugations and a lot of grammar structures to be aware of where Mandarin can be more straightforward once you get the hang of it.
Prehaps I'm biased because I spent many more years with Cantonese & Mandarin which are similar to one another and French is competely different. Also, the assumption that it should be easier for English speakers made me question why I wasn't finding it "easy" at the start.
The way individuals have interacted with languages in the past can have a lasting effect on how they approach learning new languages, influencing their perception of challenges and their personal preferences in language acquisition. It is possible that your long-term exposure to Mandarin and Cantonese is giving yourself some sort of resistance with the acquisition of French. I wonder what learning my next language will be like!
What I find particularly fascinating about your comparison between Mandarin and French is that it not only sheds light on the subjective nature of language learning experiences but also presents valuable perspectives, and that is why I love it. Despite the common perception that Mandarin is a more challenging language for English speakers, it is important to recognize that your personal satisfaction and preferred method of learning Mandarin reflect the individual experience of language acquisition.
I agree with the last point, every language has its own difficulties and yet learning multiple languages become a bit easier when we can relate to certain things (say grammar points or usage of a certain word) from previously learnt(ing) languages. Interesting post!
Thank you for reading!
in my experience, the early stages seem easier, but over the long-term it seems to even out a little
The dreaded intermediate level plateaus!
In my experience it definitely gets easier!
Thank you so much for researching and sharing this. Until recently, I always thought multilingualism was a pipe dream. I had a Sisyphean start-stop relationship with French for years, but once I changed my approach to language learning it took off. Now I’m dabbling with Italian, and love reading about the science behind acquiring a third language. I’d been worried that because my French isn’t perfect, Italian would serve as a distraction. Fortunately, that doesn’t seem to be the case! Thanks again! Or should I say … merci and grazie?
I'm glad you found it useful! I was so skeptical to write this at first cause I felt like I was nerding out too much. 😅 I think waiting until you perfect your French before diving head on with Italian may be too strict. I know some people who use their second language to learn their third. De rien and prego!
In my experience, the more you learn, the better you get at learning in general. It's hidden in the small things as well: getting comfortable with making mistakes, overcoming speaking anxiety, getting over perfectionism when immersing... It never gets easier, you're just getting better!
What I appreciate about language learning is how it can be so demanding that it pushes you to establish good study habits and routines, all while showing yourself grace. So yes, it never gets easier, you definitely just get better!
Now that I have joined the multilingual club I have perspectives on the difficulty of languages. For me, lack of resources have been the biggest challenge when learning a language. It's what has made learning Cantonese and Icelandic "hard".
I'll speak more about Mandarin and French since they are the two I have spent the most time with (besides Cantonese). Most people would say that Mandarin is more difficult than French for English speakers. While I can understand why this is the common opinion, I found Mandarin more enjoyable to learn at the start than I did French.
Now that my French is getting close to my level in Mandarin, I still prefer the learning process of Mandarin. I wouldn't say one is harder than the other, it's more just that the process I engage in to learn each language is different. French has conjugations and a lot of grammar structures to be aware of where Mandarin can be more straightforward once you get the hang of it.
Prehaps I'm biased because I spent many more years with Cantonese & Mandarin which are similar to one another and French is competely different. Also, the assumption that it should be easier for English speakers made me question why I wasn't finding it "easy" at the start.
The way individuals have interacted with languages in the past can have a lasting effect on how they approach learning new languages, influencing their perception of challenges and their personal preferences in language acquisition. It is possible that your long-term exposure to Mandarin and Cantonese is giving yourself some sort of resistance with the acquisition of French. I wonder what learning my next language will be like!
What I find particularly fascinating about your comparison between Mandarin and French is that it not only sheds light on the subjective nature of language learning experiences but also presents valuable perspectives, and that is why I love it. Despite the common perception that Mandarin is a more challenging language for English speakers, it is important to recognize that your personal satisfaction and preferred method of learning Mandarin reflect the individual experience of language acquisition.