A new generation of tech startups is looking to provide a language learning experience that goes beyond the classroom. It turns out, it’s pretty easy to learn foreign languages if you already speak English. All you need is the right app and a lot of patience. Here are our picks for the easiest languages for English speakers to learn.
Easiest Languages for English Speakers
1. English Language
In short, pronunciation is one of the toughest aspects to learn a new language. It’s as important as grammar or vocabulary. Basically spending time conversing with a native speaker will make the pronunciation easier for an English learner living abroad, especially if this person has only minimal experience speaking your new tongue.
2. Spanish Language
Spanish is the first choice for old and young alike who want to learn a new language. The Spanish culture and customs are just as diverse as their country which offers a wide range of adventures like hiking in Morocco or driving around Madrid, unlike any other place in Europe. For many people learning Spanish is the best way to explore Spain.
3. Swedish Language
Sweden is famous for its arctic tundra, dark forests, and howling wolves. Sweden is considered to be the epitome of cleanliness with a 99% hygiene rating which makes it easy on the eyes too! Speaking Swedish is an ideal way to learn about the history of your country while experiencing its beautiful countryside.
Penpals and ESL rooms also promote learning Swedish as a foreign language in Sweden which makes it easily attainable for learners of all ages, from primary to postsecondary education.
4. Germanic Language
German is the only one of the five main “Germanic” languages that extend across Northern Europe and has a rich history dating back to Roman times. Sure it’s not spoken in exactly the same way as German, but this isn’t always easy for international students with their native language probably being Latin.
The simple fact that German is the language of science and technology means it’s well suited for students who are working in fields where English isn’t a strong selling point, for instance, engineering or software development.
5. Italian Language
Italian is one of the oldest languages in Europe, being co-official with French until 2002. The language has remained relatively untouched since ancient Rome despite cultural shifts to other cities such as Paris and London due to Italian’s use for diplomacy between countries for over 1000 years.
In addition to its focus on diplomacy and the arts, Italian has been extremely influential in modern science and technology. As a second language learning Italian can be useful for those people who travel regularly internationally or speak German fluently when speaking with an international audience.
6. Norwegian Language
Although Norway does not have an official language it is highly used throughout Scandinavia and the rest of Europe. Also with a long history, Norwegian has also been untouched by linguistic influences from surrounding languages such as Dano-Norwegian, Swedish, or Danish for over 1500 years which make this country ideal for learners of Scandinavian languages.
Norwegian is written using the Latin alphabet and uses many of the same letters as English, such as A, B, C, and D are also used (sometimes in place of V). Norwegians use verb endings like they do in Spanish.
7. French Language
The French language has held a strong position within Europe and around the world for over 2000 years which means there are many scholarly themes, holidays, phrases that are exclusive to this region of Eurasia. In addition, French also dates back to when countries had already moved to a republican form of government: Gauls, Greeks, and Romans.
French is considered the official language in 26 countries outside France with 15 million speakers worldwide.
8. Portuguese Language
Portugal was a country that had been included in the Roman Empire. Later, it became part of the Kingdom of Portugal and the Spanish Empire for over 1000 years which means that the Portuguese have many connections to Rome as well as positions within other countries across Europe/Latin America such as Germany (Almanack) Brazil (name of a footballer). Portuguese also had a role within the Atlantic Slave trade as well as being an influential language in China, Japan, Indonesia, and South East Asia (Portuguese is used at least once by all major characters).
9. Romance Language
German as well as France, Italian and Spanish are all considered Romance languages. Some of the differences between Germanic vs. Romance include their lexicons (German forms a large proportion of technical words while French is more literary); phonetics (many consonants have changed sounds within certain varieties yielding some ill-understood differences between varieties); and in the case of Portuguese, while both retain a Latin origin they have major lexical divergence. Portugal is also notable for being one of the very few places that still use their own version as a national language (Portuguese has been officially standardized).
10. Dutch Language
The Dutch language comes from the Low Countries or Dutcheshre, which was a region of contact between France and Germany. As there wasn’t much to start with you can expect many influences coming into Dutch from the French language.
Dutch also practiced slavery for a long time, but not like other countries since black people were no longer brought to get sold into Britain and getting undervalued because they didn’t look ‘white’ enough (as there was segregation).
Some FAQs
1- What is the best language to learn after the English language?
None. Don’t waste your time trying out a language that is not your mother tongue. There are plenty of other learning resources for beginner and intermediate learners.
2- Which language is hardest to learn for English speakers?
That’s a hard one to answer. Because learning languages is mostly an acquired skill, how you learn can affect your progress. The most important thing you should keep in mind when it comes to language learning is the principle of “foam rolling…not punishment” and successful learners do vary their approach. Read More About hardest languages to learn for non english speakers.
3- When should I start learning a new language?
When you get the urge to learn, go for it! You’ll never know when an opportunity will arise that makes your desire to learn more urgent than at any other time. “A language is like a muscle: It gets stronger with exercise.” – Dr. Paul Pelton
4- What are the best languages for English speakers to learn?
Spanish and French are the most well known for being easy to learn, Mandarin Chinese is also relatively easy depending on your interests.
5- What is the easiest language for English speakers to learn?
Japanese is considered to be the easiest language for English speakers. It is usually easy to find an English teacher with some experience in teaching it.
In conclusion, it is important to remember that language learning is a personal experience. There are no rules or standards that will help you learn languages faster and more efficiently. It’s up to you how you want to learn, but there are some basic things that every learner should keep in mind.