Having a interview on Friday for a job where I may need to learn French as well, it got me thinking: Is it going to take me another 5 years? Or is French harder/easier than German to learn for English native speakers ?
Having been here more than 5 years I still find German challenging, and have not yet conquered the written part to a professional level.
I think it is easier to learn French than German. French has fewer inflections and the verbs are more regular (although that is relative). Besides, English borrowed a lot of its vocabulary from French which makes it even easier for an English native speaker to learn. But do not underestimate it because there are always a lot of details to consider. However, I do think it is easier than German and it might even be easier to pronounce, as it doesn't have "ch", "pf" and the like...
Good luck! French is definitely a language worth learning!
I like the option "I don't care I work in IT" No really, I live in the French speaking region of Switzerland and don't need it at work, but it helps to socialize outside of work. After 8 months here...i can get around and get the jest of what's being said, but am in no way fluent. All I have to say is good luck! Cheers, Brie (BTW:Where are you interviewing?)
Zürich, but the job description requests D/E/F. I can give a D and E, but I can't give an F.
litespeed, you are going to need to give an F to learn French!
If I had my way, I would vote in the poll that German and French are equally hard to learn. But there is not that option.
What made the difference for me was liking French. I don't tire of it as I do with German. It is just so much prettier to my ears.
With the proper motivation or interest or desire, learning something is always easier. I hate it when people say they are learning something for their job - there needs to be something more than just obligation keeping you going.
Good point. The poll has been adjusted accordingly.
Hello
I've learnt french and german, although french has really been more since I lived here. However I would say that I feel as if I had more of an affinity (if thats the right word to use!) with the German language, it seemed to be easier for me.
I guess English part of the same Germanic language group, as far as I remember so maybe its easier for english speakers to learn
I had to vote for the last one, but I would say G is easier. I learnt both in school to some degree and definitely found German easier then. Perhaps to get to a decent level F is easier or they are equal, but to start I definitely found German easier. What I also find though is that since I spent more time "learning French" (actually: messing about at the back of the class) I still understand some when I hear it spoken. Maybe that means French is easier... Anyway, I'm amazed at my brain's capacity to remember something I never had an interest in *mumble* years ago, and that I never expected to use again.
Either your teacher was wrong or I am strange. I find either quite easy to believe
It's very intresting to have an option of "I dont care i am in IT"
I am in IT and really feel the importance of learning german to make life easy in CH.
Still, Swiss German is sometimes written, particularly in emails, sms and so on, but also some in literature. However what you are actually referring to as Swiss German is a bunch of different idioms. High German is a standardised language not naturally spoken, altough many people do speak it in Germany, especially those who want to suggest that they are educated.
You are in the minority! I've worked with loads of IT bods who don't want to learn either French or German (I've lived & worked both sides of the Rösti Grabben). A lot of them it's because they are only here short term so don't see the point others just can't be bothered. Personally I find speaking at least some of the local language to be really helpful and want to learn more.
What about Italian?
That's a doddle - even the kids next door speak it...
Does that mean if you're trying to learn some German before going to Switzerland it's pointless unless you're specifically learning Swiss-German?
Nope, they (the Swiss-Germans) can all speak High-German, it's just that some of then speak English just as well. It depends on your long-term plans...
Well 99.9% of them. When I was in hospital a few years ago I had an old Appenzeller farmer in the bed beside me who either could not, or would not, speak High German.
Whoa! They make you share beds in Swiss hospitals?!?
i learned French a bit at school but not German.
Now, even all these years later, when I go to France on holiday, i find myself picking up things and remembering things that surprise me.
But after six months working here, I still don't have the first clue about what people are saying when they speak their native tongue.
I've still, to my shame, not motivated myself to go out and learn it, partly because the number of swiss speaking english makes it easy for me, and partly because i think my learning days might be a long time gone. The thought of learning long lists of words and conjugating verbs, which I can now recognise did such a lot of good in French at school, just fills me with dread.
My five year old son is picking up his reading quite well now in English, after what to me has been a sluggish start (his sister was so much more advanced when she was his age).
it made me wonder whether I shouldn't invest in a few kiddies books in german where you can listen to the story on a tape or something while reading it at the same time.
Well I've got to start somewhere, and I could get the kids into it at the same time. But all plans and no action is my lifetime failing....
Hi, I work in IT and I do think it is important to be able to speak German or French. One of the first things I did when I came to Switzerland is learn German.
From personal experience I found German easier to learn than French as I found the p ronunciation of German much easier. However, I find being able to learn Swiss German and being able to pronunce it quite difficult. It does not help that it just sounds like broken German to me. My wife on the other hand just has a mental block when it comes to German but can speak French,Italian and Spanish. I forgot to say she is English.
Her theory is if you are a logical person you will pick up German quicker and if you are a more creative person then French easier.
Regards
Martin