It is an established fact that learning to speak another language – since it is not your native tongue –is a very difficult task. Sometimes for some people, it might near impossible. However, some people who are not native English speakers tend to have the idea that trying to learn English will be a cake walk. How wrong they are, and they often find out soon enough.
The first thing that makes people think English is east to learn is the fact that picking up on the conversational form of English is quite easy. I agree; it is often easy and that is why there is quite a whole variety of accents by which English may be spoken these days. However, this is just Basic English and if you want to learn English proper, you might just be getting to the heart of the matter.
One thing that makes it hard to understand English is the laws and rules that govern it. It would have been if the rules of English had been set in rigid ways and decrees. However, the rules of English can be quite flexible, making it almost impossible for you to just memorize them and understand them. Therefore you need to know when to use certain expressions in English and to know also when the application becomes invalid and another expression becomes in order. It can be quite exasperating.
Another factor is the pronunciation aspect to English. Although there are many accents to the English language, an effective pronunciation is nonetheless an important requirement before you can claim to have understood the language. Some people might learn English without having a good idea of how the words should be pronounced. The different accents themselves make English flexible once again, making it hard for you to pick up on the right pronunciation patterns.
Another problem on the road to English mastery is the understanding of the proper structure of all the grammar and stuff. For instance, the really okay English might not sound okay, and if you have not had your English brushed up, you might think it is a flaw whereas it is actually the right thing to say. For instance, take the use of split infinitives. If you learnt English in school, you would probably have learnt that it is not proper to use split infinitives. However you will encounter them in everyday speech, where people will use them for emphatic purposes.
Another problem is the use of colloquial and slang terms. It is often hard to tell, because most celebrities these days use them often. However, some college professors and educated people do not know how to use these very well.
However despite all these or because of them, the English language is a language that you try your best to take slow and steady. Do not let any deceive you into believing that you can rapidly breeze through your English course.
Know this: learning English is fun! Make sure you learn it from a native speaker though. This make is easier to pick up on the accent.