English Grammar, Harder Than Other Languages?

    English, the second most common spoken language in the world, is said to be one of the hardest to learn to speak, read and write properly. Grammar in English, unlike many other languages has many more rules.  While every language has a set of rules that dictates action, as they should, english and its grammar doesn't. The rules associated with english are more focused on specifics and case by case scenarios, rather than a broad umbrella of guidelines. Some languages have grammar specific male and female statutes, while english does not, it more than makes up for it with the added plethora of varying axioms.

  We did an interview with Isaac M. an immigrant to the US from Iran. He speaks multiple languages including; Farsi, Arabic, French, Spanish and English. He had spent his younger years in Iran, then moved to France for school, from there went to Spain until he finally immigrated to America.

   When we sat down with him, he held a staunch opinion on how english, and specifically english grammar was the hardest for him to pick up on despite the fact he lived in the US longer than any other country in his life. He was very clear that living in the US thirty plus years and even going to a private university didn't help. When asked what can be done to remedy the hardship of learning english and grammar to make it easier for non native english speakers he simply said, "Make sure you start children off at a very young age, have them watch good, American educational programs." He put an emphasis on good educational programming as according to him, 'there is nothing worse for children than bad TV'. He also made a note that exposing children to computers and spending time with them was healthy, so far as they were using them for educational purposes.
 

    While this may sound simple, it couldn't be more true. As many educators say, it's imperative for  children to begin learning a secondary language at a young age. The undeveloped mind is like a sponge ready to absorb all it receives. As the old adage goes, 'You can't teach an old dog new tricks'. The brain works in a similar way, notice how while the younger generation can pick up new technology devices with very little struggle, to the elderly they seem like magic. At a certain point it becomes a struggle, and we give up. Isaac explained to us, that as native english speakers, we were at an advantage, it's like being born knowing how to do advanced mathematics.

What do you think?

Please comment, ask your friends that speak multiple languages, or don't speak english as their native tongue what they think.

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