French or Spanish: Which Foreign Language Should you Learn?
Rarely, anyone among us would have known the importance of learning a language like French or Spanish in our school. But as we grew, we understood the marvel called language. For a long time, people have tried to reason out which language to learn. In truth, the ongoing debate among the millennials is about French v/s Spanish.
Why study a foreign language?
From the perspective of a student just setting out for opportunities in education, knowing a language such as French or Spanish is like a boon. Your rates of acceptance from universities will increase exponentially. A broadened understanding of culture is another direct result of this. Anybody looking out for job opportunities can hit a boundary if they know a foreign language. It increases your worth when it comes to marketing because you become global.
A prominent question: French or Spanish?
French and Spanish both have a vast base. These two linguistically demarked regions open doors of enormous professional opportunities. While both of these languages are good for some of the other reasons, it is time we list them down. Subsequently, it is your choice to pick.
Also Read: 30 Essential French Travel Phrases to Know
1. How easy is it to learn the language?
As the trend goes, it is easier to learn a language similar to your mother tongue. Why? Because the rules won’t differ much. It will be easier for you to build on a foundation that is already strong. Moreover, this will reduce the efforts and time it will consume.
So most of the time, people consider this similarity while picking their choice of language.
When it comes to French v/s Spanish, there is a considerable difference. With French, you have to be more focused on pronunciation, whereas german has an easy-going approach with both spelling and pronunciation.
In this case, an average English speaker can quickly learn Spanish. It is the same with Portuguese and Italian as they share a phonetic base with Indian languages.
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Your purpose of learning the language: work, travel, or education?
The thought of learning a new language can have many stimuli. For instance, people look out for job opportunities or a dream destination or as a place for higher education. In any of these cases, there are a few factors that will help you with your choice.
You can start by looking at how diversified the language is. Both French and Spanish have a vast speaker base. There are about 20 Spanish-speaking nations worldwide. Whereas, there are 29 French-speaking nations.
The stats point out that Spanish has about half-a-billion speakers. The interesting fact is that 40 to 50 million of these live in the US. Therefore, if your destination is the American continent, then Spanish can be your language of choice. Similarly, French will be ideal if you plan on traveling to Canada, West and North African region, or even some parts of Europe.
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Personal interest:
Learning a new language is an extensive process. But if you pick a language that you feel passionate about then, you have the necessary driving force. This force will motivate you to reach a higher level of competency in that language.
Also Read: The 5 Best ways to successfully learn Spanish
In the arena of French v/s Spanish, French has garnered more appeal. It is a language of love and class. France is known for its cuisine, art, and fashion, among other things. Furthermore, there are several books on history, art, and architecture that are available only in French.
But it only depends on your perspective. Different factors appeal to different people. Here comes the most critical factor in personal goals and interests.
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Career and Job opportunities post-learning Spanish or French:
Needless to say that when it comes to international prominence, French and Spanish top the charts. But to choose one, your long-term goals become a decisive factor.
If your focus is to contribute to areas like telecommunications, aeronautics, and energy production, then French will be the ideal language. Moreover, French opens up doors to offer international service in regions like Africa.
With a stronghold on Spanish, you can look forward to a career in business in the US. You will have ample opportunities to establish a client base in Latin America too. All in all, Spanish can help you access the market quickly.
There are considerable opportunities in the export-import sector for French and Spanish specialists. You can also find positions in foreign embassies and careers in the tourism industry with a command of French or Spanish.
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The difficulty level of the language
Spanish is a phonetic language. Hence its rules of pronunciation are easy to follow. If you happen to be a fluent English speaker, then Spanish will grow in you as it is pretty straight forward.
English and Spanish are quite similar on many fronts, for instance, pronunciation. The grammar might be a little tricky and lengthy for you. But it is nothing you can’t conquer with a little bit of daily practice. As a language, Spanish has the right amount of regional variation in pronunciation and grammar.
Overall, Spanish is a language more natural to learn. With 2-3 years of regular practice and proper guidance, you can clear Spanish Proficiency tests. These tests are B2 of the DELE test or SIELE exam.
Also Read: Follow these 5 tips to master any language
On the contrary, French is a difficult language. It isn’t a phonetic language, and its spellings and pronunciations are quite different. Due to these rules, it might take you a few years to learn the pronunciation and the accents.
French elementary grammar is easy enough that you can have a meaningful conversation within a few months. With 15 hours a week of work, you can pass the French language proficiency test, i.e., DELF B2 or DALF C1 exam in 3 years
Grammatically speaking, French and Spanish are at the same difficulty levels as other romance languages. So, your performance depends highly on your interest and passion.
Final word!
Both French and Spanish are popular languages for any English speaker. Which side the scale tips in the debate of French v/s Spanish is a personal agenda. Think about your plans, career opportunities, and interests. Moreover, only your interest in a language can keep you going. So choose wisely.
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