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How Hard Is Learning French

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How Hard Is Learning French

How hard is learning French or how hard is it to learn French is a question we get asked quite often on Lingo Press. French remains a popular language to learn even though it isn’t seen as being as useful as Spanish, Mandarin or Arabic. This could be in part because of people wanting to go to France, having the opportunity to work with French companies or our love of France and French culture. France remains a huge part of Europe in terms of culture, politics and economy and French remains popular along with it.

Due to this lots of people want to learn French either for work or fun and one of the first questions they ask is how hard is learning French? French and English are both Indo-European languages, meaning that they share a common language ancestor and they share many similarities. Compared to most languages French is an easy language to learn for a native English speaker. Languages like Spanish might be considered easier due to uniform pronunciation and pretty standard grammar rules but French is still up there with easy languages for native English speakers to learn.

French And English Share Many Similar Words

Even though they come from two separate language families, English has had lots of influence from the romantic languages meaning that there is a lot of overlap. For example words that end in ‘tion’ in English tend to be similar or the same in French (although the pronunciation is definitely different). For example ‘nation’ in English is spelt exactly the same in French but has French pronunciation, same for ‘instruction.’ ‘Suction’ in English becomes ‘succion’ in French, so although different, still similar enough to help you remember it. And this is true for lots of other French words as well.

There Are Patterns To Gendered Words

When you first come across European languages and realise that words are gendered it can really throw a lot of people. The good news is that there are good rules to know whether something is masculine or feminine based on the word’s ending and once you’ve learned these rules you’ll be able to guess the gender of new words based on their endings.

There Are Lots Of Resources To Help You Learn French

Due to French being a popular language there are an abundance of resources to help you learn. You have courses on Duolingo and Memrise, textbooks, graded readers, TV, film, youtube channels and so much more. These resources make it so much easier to learn than other languages where the materials haven’t been developed as well yet.

Things That Make Learning French Difficult

We’ve looked at things that make French easy to learn, now let’s look at some of the factors that make the language a bit more tricky.

Irregular Verbs

One of the things that make Fench slightly more difficult is the amount of irregular verbs. If you’re learning a language like Spanish the rules are pretty straight forward but when it comes to French they like irregular verbs and exceptions to rules as much as the English language does. Irregular verbs are definitely something that people struggle with when it comes to learning French

Difficult Pronunciation

Another factor that makes French fairly difficult is the pronunciation of certain phonemes. French has sounds that English doesn’t really have and that can be difficult for an English speaker to recreate. They have several similar sounds which can change the meaning of a word but an English speaker would just use the same sound for all of them. Getting used to French pronunciation is something you need to do early on when learning French if you want to be understood but is also something that many learners of the language find difficult.

False Friends

Now these are things that most European languages have but it’s still important to mention them. False friends are words that trip you up by looking incredibly similar to the English word but having a different meaning For example ‘actuellement’ means ‘currently’ rather than ‘actually’. This is just one of many false friends that trip English speakers up and can leave them confused or find themselves in embarrassing situations when learning French.

So how hard is learning French? For an English speaker French is a fairly easy language to learn compared to other languages. There are some factors that make it more difficult like irregular verbs and strange pronunciation but on the whole it’s on of the easier languages for a native English speaker to learn.

Article: How Hard Is Learning French

Suggested Article: Best French Textbooks

Learning French And German At The Same Time

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Learning French And German At The Same Time

Learning any two languages together can cause some troubles but learning French and German at the same time is definitely doable even if it is a challenge. The closer two languages are to each other the harder it is to learn them both without getting them mixed up. So if you learn two languages from the same family like Italian and Spanish you’ll have a much more difficult time.

French and German come from different languages families, French being romantic and German being Germanic. While they’re both Indo-European, they’re different enough that anyone learning wanting to learn them both could probably do so without any major mishaps.

If you are going to learn French and German at the same time then there are some steps you can take to make the process easier for you overall.

Learn One Language To An Intermediate Level First

Even though learning French and German at the same time is very possible, it’s always easier if you already have a base in one of your languages. Learning one of the languages to an intermediate level before you embark on the second can make it easier for you. For a start you’re less likely to forget the first language you started learning or getting them mixed up.

Secondly it will help you in terms of actual language learning. If you’re a native English speaker who’s never thought much about grammar then verb conjugation can be extremely tricky to get your head around, same with the concepts of masculine and feminine nouns. Once you’ve encountered these once and started to understand them it’ll be a lot easier the second time round.

Also having learnt one language, you’ll know what techniques work for you. Are you someone who likes input to the point of understanding before you start trying to speak or do you want to be using your language from day one? Are textbooks useful for you or do you prefer apps? These are things all language learners must figure out when they first set out on learning a new language which can be time consuming. If you’ve already studied one language you’ll know how to approach your second language and will be able to learn more effectively.

Study Each Language Every Day

If you want to progress in both languages then it’s important you study them both every day. Even if it’s just for fifteen minutes it’s better than studying German one week then French the next. This would be true even if you were only studying one language at a time. A little bit every day goes a long way.

Studying both French and German each day will get you more used to switching between the two languages which will make mix ups less likely to happen. If you can speak both languages each day this will also make a huge difference to your learning. Output helps you to start thinking in the language and will get you used to swapping between using the two.

Make A Note Of Mix Ups And Work On Them

Even though these two languages are very different and are from two distinct language families, mix ups can happen. When you learn two languages at once it’s easy to mix up grammar rules or use a French word when you want to use a German one. If these mix ups occur that’s ok, just try to make a note of them so you can work on them. If you notice the same mistakes keep occurring then work deliberate practise into your studying schedule and really go over those points. Don’t just ignore mistakes and allow them to continue as they can become stuck by a process called fossilisation.

Try To Find A French Language Partner And A German One

As we’ve mentioned earlier, speaking both languages each day will make a huge difference to your progress. Now you can do this yourself by narrating what you’re doing or recording yourself like a video diary but a language partner will make the world of difference. They’ll be able to provide you with instant feedback and you’ll be able to practise your listening skills at the same time. They’ll also be able to let you know if any of your French is affecting your German and vice versa.

Learning French and German at the same time can be difficult but not impossible, follow these tips to help you have the best chance for success:

  • Learn one language to an intermediate level first
  • Study Each Language Every Day
  • Make A Note Of Mistakes
  • Try to find a French language partner and a German one

Article: Learning French And German At The Same Time

Suggested Article: Best French Textbooks

Learning French After Spanish

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Learning French After Spanish

Learning French after Spanish has both its benefits and its drawbacks. If your Spanish isn’t strong enough then you could get the two languages mixed up or even lose your Spanish. If your Spanish is quite well established then you can use the things you’ve learned to help you with French. Let’s take a look at some of the advantages of this, some of the downsides and how you can best approach learning French after Spanish.

Potential Issues Of Learning French After Spanish

One of the major issues that people run into when learning French after Spanish is mixing the two up or finding that their Spanish starts to fade and get replaced with the French. A way to get around this is to get your Spanish up to an intermediate level before moving onto French. This means you have a solid understanding of the language and can use it in most situations even if your Spanish isn’t perfect. A B2 level or above would help prevent you from forgetting Spanish.

It’s also important to make sure you keep using your Spanish as you learn French. If you swap between the two and make an effort to keep up to date with Spanish by watching films or speaking it regularly then there’s less of a chance you’ll forget it. Once you’ve reached an intermediate level there’s plenty of Spanish media you can consume. With Netflix, Amazon and Youtube you now have access to plenty of Spanish material. You can also find language partners on websites like italki where you can continue to practise speaking in Spanish. If all else fails a diary is a good way to make sure you’re thinking in Spanish as you formulate your thoughts to write them down.

You might find French more difficult than Spanish. Spanish is fairly consistent in its spelling and pronunciation and has fairly few irregularities when it comes to grammar. Where as French is a bit more like English in that the pronunciation doesn’t always make sense, the spelling can be confusing and they have a load of irregular verbs. Don’t let this put you off though, Spanish might be a bit easier but look at French as levelling up. Now you’re ready for something similar but a bit more challenging.

Advantages Of Learning French After Spanish

One of the major advantages of learning French after Spanish is that they share a lot of common words. They both come from the romantic language family so have a lot of similarities meaning it’ll be easier for you to pick up French vocab as you’ll have come across a lot of it in Spanish already even if the pronunciation is a bit different.

Also once you learn one romantic language it becomes a lot easier to learn a second. Romantic languages tend to have fairly similar grammar structures that you may not have come across in English especially if you just know English from being a native speaker and haven’t looked into the grammar in depth. Once you’ve learned verb conjugation in Spanish it’ll be a lot easier for you to get your head around it in French.

As you’ve already learned one language you’ll know what works for you. Not all techniques work for everyone and when you first start learning a foreign language a lot of time can be wasted on learning how to learn. Once you’ve learned Spanish you’ll know what methods were useful for you and can make your French learning much more efficient.

Learning French after Spanish puts you at an advantage for learning French as you’ve already dealt with new grammar, similar vocab and finding out how you best learn a foreign language. However, its downside is that it could harm your Spanish in the process. If you have a strong level of Spanish and you make an effort to keep practising this should be enough to help prevent your Spanish from slipping. If you notice you are getting mixed up then make sure you speak each language every day and practise switching between the two so you become more used to using your Spanish brain and your French brain.

Article: Learning French After Spanish

Suggested Article: Best French Textbooks

Learning French and Italian at the same time

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Learning French And Italian At The Same Time

Learning French and Italian at the same time is no easy feat. They are incredibly similar as they are both romance languages, making it easy to mix them up. If you start learning them both from scratch at the same time then you’re likely to run into some difficulties. However, if you’re willing to stagger your learning or if you’re just determined you’re going to make it work then there are some things you can do to make it easier for yourself and to make it more likely that you’ll succeed.

Learn One Language To An Intermediate Level First

If you’re able to, try to learn one language to intermediate level first rather than learning French and Italian at the same time from a beginner’s level. Once you have a solid understanding of a language at an intermediate level, you’re less likely to forget that language when you learn a new one, especially one as similar to French as Italian. If you use the European framework for reference then a solid B2 is a good level to get a language up to before learning another.

You might feel impatient and not want to do this but if you can then it will make you less likely to mix the two languages up and it will also make the second language easier to learn as you’ve already learnt one and you’ve had an insight into grammar from another language. You’ve also had a chance to see what techniques work for you and what were a waste of time which should help you progress more quickly with the second language.

If you really can’t wait and want to learn them both at the same time from scratch then keep reading and we’ll look at some tips that might come in useful for you.

Study French And Italian Every Day

If you’re determined to learn French and Italian at the same time then make sure you study each language every day. This is better than doing French one week and Italian the next. Studying them every day will get you used to switching between the two which will come in useful when you’re trying not to mix them up.

Set aside dedicated times of the day to learn French and dedicated times to learn Italian. Even if you can only give fifteen minutes to each language each day. Sit down with your French materials and your French brain and study French, then when you sit down to study Italian later you can get yourself in the zone for Italian. This kind of learning should get you more used to swapping between the two languages.

Try To Speak Each Language Every Day

Output of a language is a great way to start thinking and formulating thoughts in that language. Speaking both French and Italian every day will quickly get you used to using these two languages and will help you switch between your French brain and your Italian brain much more quickly.

In the early days you can this by speaking to yourself, narrate what you’re doing or treat this exercise like a verbal diary. Writing the language could also help. Another great technique is to record yourself speaking the language each day. Not only is this a way to make sure you definitely get the practise in but you’ll also be able to look back and see how you’ve improve a few months down the line which can be great motivation when you reach that inevitable intermediate plateau.

Once you’ve gained a bit of confidence then you can start looking for language partners. You can try websites like conversation exchange or italki to find language partners and do exchanges with them. Maybe you’ll even be able to find some Italian and French friends and then your language skills can really start to flourish.

Find The Materials That Suit You

Not everyone learns in the same way. If you’re someone who finds textbooks boring and slow then you don’t want to buy an Italian textbook and a French textbook that you have to wade your way through. Try different things out and see what helps, do you enjoy Duolingo? Do you like memorizing vocab or working through a textbook? Do you like functional language use where you want to learn vocabulary in preparation for upcoming exchanges. No two people learn a language exactly the same so find out which method is most useful for you.

Make A Note Of Mix Ups And Work On Them

Mix ups will happen as the two languages are very similar but if this happens don’t worry, instead make a note of them and work on them. If they are common mistakes then you could drill them in each language, or actively practise using them. When you’re coming up to something in Italian where you’d normally substitute in some French, slow down, concentrate and really work on using the Italian. As this becomes more natural for you you’ll be able to speed up without using mistakes.

Learning French and Italian at the same time can be difficult but if you’re determined and you like a challenge there’s no reason you shouldn’t go for it. If you choose to this then these are some tips that could make it a little easier for you:

  • Learn one language to an intermediate level first
  • Study French and Italian every day
  • Try to speak each language every day
  • Find materials that suit you
  • Make a note of mix ups and work on them

Finally, good luck with your language challenge.

Article: Learning French and Italian at the same time

Suggested Article: Best Italian Textbooks To Sky Rocket Your Italian

Learning French And Spanish At The Same Time

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learning french and spanish at the same time

Learning French and Spanish at the same time

Learning French and Spanish at the same time can be a bit of a daunting task.  Learning any two languages at the same time can be difficult let alone two that are so similar. When you learn languages that are in the same family it becomes easier to confuse them, to mix up the grammar and to use the odd French word when speaking Spanish and vice versa.

Ideally you would learn one language until you were at a strong intermediate level like B2 or above before moving onto the second language. This would help prevent you from mixing the languages up as much or ‘losing’ the first language.

However, whether or not you decide to learn both languages at the same time is completely up to you. It’s no easy goal but if you’re determined to do so then there are some things you can do to make this a little easier for yourself.

Learning French And Spanish At The Same Time

So how can you learn French and Spanish at the same time? Let’s look at some tips that could help you out.

Study Both Language Every Day

Study both languages every day. Set a time for your French and a time for your Spanish, ideally spaced apart and make sure you do each language for a bit every day. This will help you get used to getting into your Spanish brain and getting into your French brain.

If you study one week and then switch the next week you’re more likely to make mistakes and take a while getting into the language you’re currently working on. By studying every day you’ll be more used to the switch which will allow you move between them more easily.

Get One Up To Intermediate First

As we mentioned earlier, if possible try to get one of the languages up to an intermediate level before you start learning the second language. If you have a strong basis in French then you shouldn’t start forgetting words or getting mixed up when you introduce Spanish.

It’s a lot trickier to learn two similar languages if you’re learning them both from scratch. Having a solid basis in one will make it much easier to learn the second one.

Make A Note Of Mix Ups

If there are things you get mixed up with or words that you keep using in Spanish that are French words then make a note of them, don’t just ignore them. You can then use deliberate practice to try and keep them in the correct language. Try to actively use them and if you’re using grammar where you normally get mixed up then slow down and make a conscious effort to get it in the right language. The more you do this the easier it should get.

Speak every day

Try to speak each language every day. Language output is a great way to help you start formulating ideas in that language and get used to expressing yourself. If you make the effort to speak both languages every day and not just one then it’ll become easier switching between speaking each of them.

You can either practice speaking to yourself or look for real partners. Websites such as italki are great ways to get started as you can find people who want to learn your language and spend half the time speaking your language then half the time speaking theirs.

Immersion Is Important

We would say this regardless of which language you were learning or how many you were learning at the same time. Immersion will help you improve much more quickly in each language. Now if you’re luckily enough to spend time in one of those countries this should be relatively easy for you but if not music, youtube videos, language partners on italki can all help you immerse yourself in the two languages. Just make sure your immersion is at your current level or just above. If you’re a beginner and you’re listening to advanced material then you probably won’t take much of it in at all.

Learning French and Spanish at the same time can be difficult but there’s no reason you shouldn’t do so if you really want to, some helpful tips are:

  • Try getting one to intermediate before you introduce the second
  • Study both languages every single day
  • Make a note of mix ups and work on them
  • Speak every day
  • Immerse yourself in both languages as much as possible

Article: Learning French and Spanish at the same time

Suggested Article: Best French Textbooks

French Names That Start With E

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french names that start with e

French Names That Start With E

French names have been popular in English speaking countries for years. They’re often pretty, they sound sophisticated and they have that wonderful European sound to them, making them an attractive choice for a baby name. If you’re looking for French names that start with E for your baby name then hopefully we have a good selection for you. If you’re looking for a name for a protagonist in your story or you’re just curious about names then hopefully we’ll be able to help you as well.

French Girls Names That Start With E

Luckily for you there are loads of French girls names starting with the letter E and they’re all as beautiful as you’ve imagined. French girls names always sound pretty and when they start with a vowel we think they have a little something extra.

  • Eleonore
  • Elie
  • Elise
  • Ellise
  • Élodie
  • Emeline
  • Emilie
  • Emeraude
  • Emmanuelle
  • Enora
  • Estee
  • Eugenie
  • Evellyn

French Boys Names That Start With E

Boys French names that start with an E often sound strong and in English they can come across as a bit posh. Here are some of our favourites:

  • Edgar
  • Edmond
  • Edouard
  • Elie
  • Eloi
  • Elroy
  • Emile
  • Eric
  • Erwan
  • Etienne
  • Eugene

Hopefully we’ve been able to supply you with some great French names that start with E. If it’s not just names you’re after and you’re interested in the French language in general then check out some of these amazing French textbooks to get you started with your French learning journey.

There are many beautiful French names in general but definitely lots starting with the letter E. Not only do we tend to romanticise French names but we often assume prestige behind such a name.

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