The hardest aspect of learning English as a second language

Re:The hardest aspect of learning English as a second language by saiya-jin on Wednesday December 18, 2019 @08:46AM (#21824698)

Meh, try learning french in your late 30s from 0 as your 4th (actually 5th) language. Of course the goal is not some basic grocery-shopping level but fluency and all the quirks that come with it.

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Re:The hardest aspect of learning English as a second language by bausano_michael on Wednesday December 18, 2019 @08:59AM (#21824836)

Unfortunately this experiment excludes several groups from participating. Those past late 30s who didn't learn French as 4th/5th language, those knowing more than 4/5 languages, those who learned French as their 2nd or 3rd language, and French.

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Re:The hardest aspect of learning English as a second language by saiya-jin on Wednesday December 18, 2019 @09:03AM (#21824873)

Nobody said it would be easy to achieve, i am still in the process of getting there. Its more about that such things are in possibly all languages out there, this is normal. Definitely all I've encountered so far.

Plus you forgot all other french-native speakers other than French nationals, which are much more numerous than French themselves.

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Re:The hardest aspect of learning English as a second language by bausano_michael on Wednesday December 18, 2019 @07:20PM (#21830891)

That is very true, I forgot about native speakers who aren't French! Good spot.

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Re:The hardest aspect of learning English as a second language by musicale on Wednesday December 18, 2019 @07:53PM (#21831083)

French seems equally terrible - are there spelling bees in France?

In any case, I shall blame French (and William the Conqueror) for much of the madness of modern English spelling.

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