So I have an 8-year-old son, Liam. This is his picture here. And I am trying to help him learn English and to read better. Well, In doing so I see how terribly difficult English is to learn. You can’t say “Sound it out” on very many words.
Hear. Heard. What?
Where, wear. Why?
To, too, two. Huh?
What sound does a C make? Really? Well isn’t that special?
Thought? Answer? Silent GH. Silent W. Why? WHY? WHYYYYYYYY?
How did I ever learn this?
Ok, basically they are all sight words. Let’s go! It’s amazing what the human mind can remember.
Ok, (or is it okay?) I’m done. (If the silent e makes a long O, why is it done?) Arghhh! But I just wanted to congratulate you if you have a command of the English language – and choke out the Englishman who came up with it! (Though someone probably beat me to it I am sure.)
I don’t know what the official hardest language is but I’ve been trying to learn Thai for the past three years and it’s very difficult! The same word is pronounced in three different tones and it means three completely different things…
I was blessed with having a mom who was an English teacher. Her commitment to helping me understand the language and all it could do for me was fantastic. She also positively influenced the life of many others by helping them see and think differently about the world through English – poetry, literature, public speaking and more. You don’t have to master the language; you simply have to love it.
Liam! ?
My first language is Spanish and I know exactly what you mean. In Spanish, once you learn how the vowels sound they are always pronounced the same way so it is easy to read. It doesn’t mean its easy to understand as anyone trying to learn all the verb tenses will tell you. This why 10 year old gets English help from mom and math help from me! LOL!
Thanks for the Friday morning laugh!
What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger — yes, no, maybe? 😉
My English teachers were nuns so I no choice but to learn or else.. Today, I’m grateful for being able to write a sentence that makes sense and to spell words without Googling them..
English is not easy for sure! I took ESL classes and I’m glad I did. I would not have been able to go to college without learning to read and write properly.
Bahasa Indonesia is the easiest language to learn since it uses no tenses! My mom is from there and I have been able to pick it up pretty easily. I still remember how proud I was the first time I read a book, probably why I still love reading so much.
I’m an American Sign Language Interpreter. I have signed most of my life but people do say it is hard to learn. In ASL: palm orientation, handshape, location, movement, and non-manuals are the 5 parameters which are the smallest parts of a sign and equates to the phonemes of English. Pretty cool. Knowing deaf people, who have English as their 2nd language, and the struggle that they have with it makes me appreciate that it is my first language for sure.