What Makes English Hard to Learn

What makes English so hard to learn, and how to master it? With two-thirds of the world’s English-speaking community being those who speak English as a second language, it shouldn’t be so hard to learn, right? Right! Although English is particularly challenging in terms of spelling and grammar, it is still possible to overcome these challenges and become a fluent speaker.

What is the best way to overcome challenges and master English? Well, the best way is to study in individual lessons online with English teachers. LiveXP, the language learning platform, offers more than 1,500 tutors to learn with. A professional English teacher can help you overcome your fears of speaking English and making mistakes, find your weaknesses in the language, and the ways to improve them. On LiveXP, you can choose native English speakers or teachers who speak your language to learn with. Learning a new language isn’t easy sometimes, and frustration may visit you when you fail. Constant support and help are all you need to face the unknown.

English spelling is hard to learn until it becomes a breeze

It doesn’t take long for English learners to discover that English is full of contradictions and exceptions to rules. Let’s begin with a famous spelling rule: “I before E except after C.” “Alright,” says the beginner English learner, “I’ve got it!” Words like “believe” and “receive” are excellent examples of how this rule works. But not so fast! What about “science” or “omniscience”? Before flipping your table, remember—it does get easier!

Although there are a number of exceptions to the spelling rules, they have been made out of the patterns found in the majority of English words. For instance, to make the plural form of the words ending with “y” preceded by a consonant, like in the word baby, you change the final “y” to an “i” and make the plural by adding the final “(e)s”—babies.

Or:

Berry—berries

Opportunity—opportunities

And once you get a hold of a couple of basic rules that generally apply to most cases, you will be able to apply them to many other words and remember the exceptions more easily.

How hard is English pronunciation?

English pronunciation is another example of what makes English hard to learn. Let’s look at some examples:

You live, but are alive.

Kansas is different from Arkansas.

Think twice before you rhyme dough with cough.

Learning English pronunciation and connecting it to its spelling is what makes this language one of the hardest to learn. One reason behind this particularity is that English developed under the influence of many different languages, which have all—unfortunately for us—left their unique mark on the English lexicon today. However, English has mostly learned audibly today—that is, through music, film, or social media, meaning that most learners acquire the new word without having seen it first—which is sufficient for successful communication and language acquisition in its first stages.

Is English grammar hard to learn?

Complicated spelling is only some of what English has inherited from other languages. Have you ever wondered why English has irregular verbs other than to make our lives harder? Well, that is because irregular verbs come from the old Germanic languages, giving English the shape it is today.

For example, if you want to use the verb read in the past tense, you will still use the exact same word, with a slightly different pronunciation:

I have lots of books to read for this semester.

I read this book before coming to class.

Fortunately for us, these irregular verbs never change, which leaves us with “only” one task—to master them!

Idioms as another stumbling block

Other elements that make English hard for language learners are idioms and their usage. When somebody tells you that it’s raining cats and dogs, you don’t actually have to expect cats and dogs to fall from the sky! Although there is no logical explanation for how these strange phrases found their way into the language today, this is a prominent characteristic that makes every language unique.

For example:

Break a leg! means good luck.

If you spill the beans, you reveal a secret.

And once in a blue moon means that something occurs very rarely.

And while idioms confuse you initially, they make language learning more fun. After all, just imagine cats and dogs falling from the sky, and you will never forget this memorable phrase!

Is English the hardest language to learn?

So, why is English so hard to learn? Can we blame its exceptional spelling and pronunciation, grammar that is not even “English,” or phrases that are generally used but make no sense? While you are trying to find an answer, let me tell you a secret: you don’t need to remember all the rules and exceptions to be able to communicate, and once you start speaking English, you will have an open door for communication with the whole world!