which lauguage are difficult to learn?

[mimosasky]

what is your opinion?





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[Keni Morgan]

Mimosasky-

I am interested in learning the Russian language but it is extremely difficult for me. I have trouble hearing the sounds necessary in the pronunciation of words. Reading it is even more difficult as I do not recognize the letters that are used. Learning French was so much easier for me. I just have to remember the funny backward or inside out way that they have of conjugating. Learning German was also very difficult but I ended up doing it more by memorization than anything else. Russian is proving to be so hard I think also, because I don't have anything that I am finding" comparable or like" as is the case with Frenh especially. I do not try to master these languages but like to have a small understanding at least.

[fairbro]

Easiest is Spanish, then French, then English, then Chinese, then Russian (these are languages I tried to learn, with varying degrees of success). Chinese is easier than Russian because there is no grammar to learn, and the characters make sense, after a while. German is easier, because the language is complex, but it follows its own rules. Russian, I have never seen anything like it. The very words mutate, even as you put them next to other words, and the multitude of case changes are unbelievable. Speaking proper Russian is like trying to eliminate a bubble in a carpet - when you step on it, it just pops up somewhere else.

[cdnexpat]

I just completed the Basic Russian grammar. After two and half years of studying it part time. Russian language is complex, but it all makes sense. Basic word structures use different prefixes and suffixes, all the time altering the meaning of the word.
Pronunciation and ortograph are very simple, as every letter is pronounced. Unlike french or English, words are pronounced only one way.
I found the biggest challenge to be the understanding, but as my vocabulary expanded, it got easier.

[Keni Morgan]

I am right there with you Fairbro!

My only success with the Russian language may only be through Hearing/Memorization. I seriuosly don't think that I'll ever be able to read it for the very same reasons that you stated. It's as if everything is codified and only members may have access to the "decodifying ring". Apparently that brand of cereal is not sold in the US.

[fairbro]

Cdnexpat, I salute your stick-to-itivness. My Russian teach at the local community college (an American) explained in great detail how the Russia language developed and how every ending does, indeed, follow a pattern. I don't think a single person in the class knew what he was talking about!

Keni Morgan, don't despair, the one thing I can do sort of well, is read. Even if you don't understand the words, you can learn how to read them, because all the letters are usualy pronounced the same way wherever they appear (except for "e" and "o"). Of course, there is also the problem of which syllable to accent, this is very important...

Once you read them, they can become familiar to you as you mouth the words.

I was taking Russian lessons. They were only 2 hours, twice a week, but she gives much homework, so I spent 10 hours doing the homework. This is what i need, someone to "push" me, because you have to do all the work yourself, anyway. There are many ex-pat Russians living in US who can help you learn Russian.