Which is easier to learn, Spanish or English?

Hola is how to say ‘Hello’ in Spanish and it’s pronounced oh-la (the ‘h’ is silent). Hola and welcome to this blog post which is highlighting an online interactive course for teachers as an introduction to Spanish.

Spanish speakers LOVE it when people who are non-Spanish speakers try to learn, and use, the language. You will find that as your Spanish language skills improve you’ll be met with increased acceptance from native speakers and the Spanish language speaking community at large.

Non-native English speakers contend that English is harder to learn than other languages because it is not always phonetic, and has many words that look the same but with different meanings. Consider these examples:

The bandage was wound around the wound.
The farm was used to produce produce.
The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
We must polish the Polish furniture.
He could lead if he would get the lead out.
The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.
At the Army base, a bass was painted on the head of a bass drum.
When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
I did not object to the object.
The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.
They were too close to the door to close it.
The buck does funny things when the does are present.
A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.
To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.
The wind was too strong to wind the sail.
After a number of Novocain injections, my jaw got number.
Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.
I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
I spent last evening evening out a pile of dirt.

Spanish, on the other hand, is easy to learn because it is phonetic and one word cannot be mistaken for another. Do you have other English language examples? Share them with us here.

From Professional Learning Board’s online continuing education course for teachers: Spanish for Educators