Is it really easier to learn a third language?

Question

People are always saying it's easier to learn another language once you've learned one, and I somehow find that difficult to believe. I mean, wouldn't knowing a different language confuse you? And...what about knowing one foreign language would make it easier to comprehend another?
I am just wondering because I am in advanced Spanish and once I have mastered it, I was thinking of moving on to German or French. I just don't know...

Answer 1

After studying one language for several years, I've found it a LOT easier to learn additional languages. It becomes easier for you to understand concepts like case and conjugation, and you see similarities and contrasts between languages that make them easier to explain to yourself. That's why knowing German made learning Mandarin easier, and why studying Mandarin made Polish make more sense (even though German and Mandarin and Polish are very, very different). Learning languages helps your brain get better at learning languages! :)

A lot of people recommend mastering one language before beginning another, but I'm not sure that's necessary. I speak only one language fluently (English), but I'm conversational in German and can comfortably carry on basic conversations and complete everyday tasks in Mandarin and Polish. I've found that it's been more beneficial for me to be able to communicate in four languages than to be fluent in only two.

I like to say that my goal in language learning is to know enough of the language to have good manners and do normal daily activities and carry on normal conversations. In other words, I want to be able to discuss my job and help someone find the bus stop and ask the grocer where the pickles are, but I don't really need to know enough to debate philosophy or explain engine maintenance.

If your goal is to become fluent in Spanish, then master Spanish before moving on to another language. However, if you think you've already learned all of the Spanish you need/want, then move on to another language now.

Answer 2

ABSOLUTELY!!! Language learning is basically learningg pronunciation (sounds), vocabulary (words), and patterns & structures (grammar). To learn a second language requires you to develop skills which you may not have in your first language. I remember there was so much taught about grammar in English that just went over my head when I was studying it, but when I needed to learn it for my second language, it all finally made sense to me. Also, learning new sounds forces you to pay attention when listening and especially when forming the sounds in your mouth. Learning to speak, read and write a new language requires discipline, and knowing what you have to do to be sucessful will help you on the third language. There are actually differences in the connections in the brain for those who master a second language, so those would be useful in the third language. If the 2nd and 3rd languages are from the same family (Spanish, French, Italian), then even the structures will be very similar, so the learning will be easier. HOWEVER, if you have not yet learned a second language, don't decide on the third until you are successful at the first. Language learning requires discipline, as I mentioned above, so take your time. Some people feel some languages are easier than others also. So if you pick one, and don't like it after a year or so, then try another!! But do not give up after a week or a month. It takes TIME! Good luck to you. Learning other languages has brought great experiences and great blessings to my life.

Answer 3

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Answer 4

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Answer 5

While I agree that learning third is easier than learning second, I disagree that learning third language from same family as first two, or one of first two is easier. I speak serbian aside from english, and when I picked Russian up, I hit a brick wall. As far as grammar goes, serbian and russian are extremely similar, and when it comes to vocab, I'd say about 30% of all words are nearly identical and have same meaning, another 30% are completely different. Problem were remaining 30% of words which sound almost identical (by which I mean serbian is harsh and russian is soft on the ear, but other than that, words are same) but have somewhat, or completely different meaning. These words and vast grammar similarities made learning russian a nightmare. I found my self really stomped by negative transfer there. Japanese on other hand was a breeze for me. Completely new grammar was not confusing at all after realizing all the differences between first two, you develop a common sense not to think about language in these or those terms, and you accept differences as something natural, and vocab having nearly no similarities meant simply memorizing new words without confusion, and similar set of sounds to that serbian uses, made even pronunciation come naturally and effortlessly. That is actually of great help, although I'm managing to understand Korean more and more, I have no luck pronouncing it nor even hearing what they are saying as they use completely different set of sounds to serbian, japanese and even english to a lesser extent. So yeah, I would avoid languages that are too similar.

Answer 6

Yes it is easier to learn a third language, especially if that language is from the same family. Sure, there is confusion in the initial stages - I found that when learning Italian already having a decent command of Spanish. However, the pluses outweigh the minuses. Constructions that baffle a 1st language learner will fall into place much more quickly: for example, if you choose French, you won't spend hours asking yourself 'Why do I need a subjunctive after "i don't think that . . ."' Also, your brain is already geared up to accepting different constructions in a foreign tongue.

French would be the easier option as you already know a lot of Spanish (both Latin languages) but German would be equally rewarding as you learn to decline nouns and adjectives.

Go for it!

Answer 7

well I think so... I'm Brazilian but I can understand most of the words written in English

and, because of that, I believe it's easier for me to learn other languages, even because I never find out good grammar books or sites which teach me some certain language in Portuguese...
I mean, they usually explain it, translating to English...

and now I'm trying to learn some French and Russian by myself, since English made things get easier for me... =D

Answer 8

It is easier in almost all cases. Once you understand that words are symbols, and language is simply putting symbols together while following rules (grammar), then you've got the hard part down.

And, many languages are cognates, meaning that they originated from the same mother tongue--get it? "Co" and "Nates"? Co meaning together and nates related to the word "pre-natal". "Born together".

Other languages are Derived from a language, so those two languages are simillar. "De" and "rived" I remember, because the second language is "downstream" from the original language, like in a "river".

In fact, there are certain words that are similar across many languages.

On paper, French will be similar to Spanish. But, you don't pronounce them the same. I speak Spanish, and I can get the gist of a French paragraph on paper, but I'm lost for the most part if I hear the language spoken. Italian, on the other hand, is similar.

Answer 9

To learn a new language, any language is always hard. Of course it´s easier if you know some other foreign language, but that can also be hard if the language you know is related to the language you already know. In your case Spanish is related to French,which is a good thing, but on the other hand one can get confused, because some words are similar but the grammar seems quite different. German is related to English. German grammar is very difficult, believe me, I have studied German for many years and still can´t speak German as the Germans do. Everything depends on you, how talented you are in languages and how hard you study. Good luck with you choice of language!

Answer 10

It is easier if the languages are similiar. Since you are learning Spanish it would be easy to learn the other Latin derived languages (Romantic Languages) of which Italian, French, Romanian, and Portuguese are a few.