So, you’ve decided that you want to learn a new language. The problem now is picking a language that’s worth learning. After all, you can learn a new language quickly, but you still want your time and effort to pay off!
One question, we at the Agape School of Education hear quite often is;
“Should I learn Spanish or French?”
The case for learning the French or Spanish Language
L’amour
French is seen by many as the language of love. I don’t know why but French seems to be synonymous with romance. Perhaps it’s because romantic movies and literature have idealized France to the outside. It is true that Paris is a beautiful place, and who doesn’t want to stroll down L’Avenue des Champs-Élysées?
On the other hand, although French is my native tongue, I find Spanish to be the more romantic language!
Two birds
When we study Etymology, we can trace the sources of the languages we speak today. It might surprise you to know that French and Spanish share 75% similarity!
So, regardless of which language you want to learn, French or Spanish, one will help you learn to speak the other.
I said speak, because writing might be an issue. But we’ll get to that later.
Suppose you decide to study French, for example. Most of the Spanish words are similar to French words because both languages come from Latin.
Let me give you an example: Let translate the word ‘photography’:
- In French: ‘Photographie’;
- In ‘Espagnol’ (Spanish): ‘Fotografa.
Those words sound really similar, you don’t think?
How about another example? ‘Translation’:
- In French: ‘Traduction’;
- In ‘Espagnol’: ‘Traduccin’.
Again, these words seem to have the same root. There are hundreds of instances like this within Spanish and French!
So, if you are hesitating between learning Spanish or French, “¿Por qué no los dos”? Why not both?
Is Spanish or French easier to learn?
If you’re an English speaker, the verdict is simple. Both Spanish and French are easy to learn. The differences are what you need to consider.
Spanish is simple to grasp because it only differs from English in morphology (word formation) and phonology (pronunciation). As an English speaker, you have the benefit of using the same alphabet and the fact that in Spanish, words are pronounced exactly as they are written.
On the other hand, there are over 75 million native French speakers in the world today (and 190 million who use it as a secondary language). French is very well-geographically distributed, which means it has relevance everywhere. French is an official language in 40 countries and is spoken in 54 countries around the world.
How much time is needed for proficiency?
According to the U.S. Foreign Service Institute (FSI) study, a native English speaker requires an average of 23-24 weeks and between 575 and 600 classroom hours to become proficient in Spanish or French.
If you’re looking to learn a new language, a great place to start is with our accredited language courses that have a proven track record of success!
Learn French or Spanish as it is really spoken!
Learn with us!
There is a myriad of ways to ensure that foreign language time is quality time, but like any other aspect of parenting: trust your judgment, employ your imagination, and listen very, very well. For everything else, trust the Agape School of Education for all your language needs!
Expose yourself to a new language at Agape School of Education through our carefully crafted Courses. Find a language you’re keen on learning through our Courses and begin your language learning experience with us. Invest in your SkillsFuture credit with us!
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