Comments on: Crazy Language Learning http://deanhunt.com/crazy-language-learning/ Because everyone is entitled to my opinion Fri, 05 Sep 2008 19:32:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Teacher Paul http://deanhunt.com/crazy-language-learning/#comment-53634 Teacher Paul Thu, 27 Dec 2007 14:54:29 +0000 http://deanhunt.com/crazy-language-learning/#comment-53634 Dean, I agree about the phrasal verbs: they're a mess. Try to teach something like this to someone whose native language is not English, but something--say--almost diametrically opposed such as Mandarin. "I'm going to go (already we have problems, yes?) tuck into (ok, break out [!] the defibrillator!) a tasty serving (oh my god, gerunds!) of ground chicken." Dean, I agree about the phrasal verbs: they’re a mess. Try to teach something like this to someone whose native language is not English, but something–say–almost diametrically opposed such as Mandarin.

“I’m going to go (already we have problems, yes?) tuck into (ok, break out [!] the defibrillator!) a tasty serving (oh my god, gerunds!) of ground chicken.”

]]> By: Dean Hunt http://deanhunt.com/crazy-language-learning/#comment-37019 Dean Hunt Thu, 04 Oct 2007 13:28:16 +0000 http://deanhunt.com/crazy-language-learning/#comment-37019 "i think you have to study more about spanish, cuz in spanish there are more than 24" Yes, I know there are more than 24, I know them ALL. But, in my opinion the past tense alone makes English harder than Spanish. Also, English has weird things like: The plane took off The man got up These literally make no sense, and for non natives they must be almost impossible to understand. “i think you have to study more about spanish, cuz in spanish there are more than 24″

Yes, I know there are more than 24, I know them ALL.

But, in my opinion the past tense alone makes English harder than Spanish.

Also, English has weird things like:

The plane took off

The man got up

These literally make no sense, and for non natives they must be almost impossible to understand.

]]> By: ... http://deanhunt.com/crazy-language-learning/#comment-22439 ... Thu, 21 Jun 2007 23:56:56 +0000 http://deanhunt.com/crazy-language-learning/#comment-22439 I would not say that english is harder than spanish, cuz in english you just have 24 tenses, 12 active tenses and 12 pasive tenses, i think you have to study more about spanish, cuz in spanish there are more than 24 ;), it is true that most of spanish people doesn't even know how to pronounce english but there are some tips that you can learn to improve your english, i speak both, so i know what i'm talking about, better luck next time... I would not say that english is harder than spanish, cuz in english you just have 24 tenses, 12 active tenses and 12 pasive tenses, i think you have to study more about spanish, cuz in spanish there are more than 24 ;), it is true that most of spanish people doesn’t even know how to pronounce english but there are some tips that you can learn to improve your english, i speak both, so i know what i’m talking about, better luck next time…

]]> By: Arnaldo http://deanhunt.com/crazy-language-learning/#comment-1622 Arnaldo Mon, 08 Jan 2007 21:57:59 +0000 http://deanhunt.com/crazy-language-learning/#comment-1622 Jajaja, me he reido como no te imaginas. Tremendo articulo, distes en el clavo. Great article. Im still laughting, Jajaja, me he reido como no te imaginas. Tremendo articulo, distes en el clavo. Great article. Im still laughting,

]]> By: Luis http://deanhunt.com/crazy-language-learning/#comment-821 Luis Wed, 13 Dec 2006 21:47:18 +0000 http://deanhunt.com/crazy-language-learning/#comment-821 I am 100% sure Spanish is easier to pronounce than English; so is German. But easier overall? Let's start with verbs. The most commonly used verbs are irregular. 10 tenses are simple (i.e. not compound), so for these tenses, for the most commonly used verbs you have to learn 6 forms per tense/verb, for a total of 60 per verb against 2 (past and perferct) and remember to add an s in the third singular person. To be, in Spanish is actually 2 verbs ("ser" and "estar"). Nouns have a gender, and you also have a declination in adjectives (ok, this is fairly easy, since it mostly goes by rules), except for some exceptions. And when you think you are getting it, you learn that you have around 10 different accents, depending on the country (heck, you even have notoriously different accents in large cities!), and even native speakers make several mistakes. I also tried learning German, and I've faced some of the difficulties Spanish learners must have, even though I am fluent in Spanish, English and French. I pity you guys, it is really difficult! I am 100% sure Spanish is easier to pronounce than English; so is German. But easier overall?
Let’s start with verbs. The most commonly used verbs are irregular. 10 tenses are simple (i.e. not compound), so for these tenses, for the most commonly used verbs you have to learn 6 forms per tense/verb, for a total of 60 per verb against 2 (past and perferct) and remember to add an s in the third singular person. To be, in Spanish is actually 2 verbs (”ser” and “estar”).
Nouns have a gender, and you also have a declination in adjectives (ok, this is fairly easy, since it mostly goes by rules), except for some exceptions.
And when you think you are getting it, you learn that you have around 10 different accents, depending on the country (heck, you even have notoriously different accents in large cities!), and even native speakers make several mistakes.
I also tried learning German, and I’ve faced some of the difficulties Spanish learners must have, even though I am fluent in Spanish, English and French. I pity you guys, it is really difficult!

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