The challenges Spanish speakers face when learning English are multifaceted and come from the many differences between the two languages. One of the primary difficulties is the pronunciation of English, which can be significantly different from Spanish since the latter is pronounced the way it is written while the former, not really. For instance, English has a wider range of vowel sounds; and certain consonant sounds, such as the “th” found in “think” or “this,” do not exist in Spanish, leading to common pronunciation errors. To make matters worse, English has been influenced by other languages and many of the words are just adapted or even pronounced the same when used in English.
Another notable challenge is the grammatical structure of English, which can be complex and often differs from Spanish. Issues such as the use of auxiliary verbs in questions, the placement of adjectives before nouns, and the use of articles can be particularly troublesome for Spanish speakers. For example, in Spanish, there is no need to use an auxiliary verb in questions, but in English, one must say “Where do you work?” instead of “Where you work?”. Additionally, there is a set order for adjectives when describing things, people or situations, which can make it confusing for Spanish speakers.
Then, there is vocabulary which, as previously mentioned, has been influenced by other languages, and of course it presents its own set of challenges, with false cognates, or “false friends,” (words that look similar in both languages but have different meanings) leading to confusion. Additionally, English words can have multiple meanings depending on the context, you can have a word that is a noun, a verb and an adjective, which can be difficult to discern without context. Also, we have phrasal verbs which are the combination of verbs and prepositions, they all have different meanings depending on the context and many of them don’t have direct translations to Spanish.
The rhythm and stress patterns of English also differ from Spanish. English is a stress-timed language, meaning the rhythm depends on the stress placed on certain syllables, whereas Spanish is syllable-timed, with each syllable generally having equal stress. This difference can affect the intelligibility of spoken English for Spanish speakers, making it difficult for them to know when there’s a question, expressions of surprise or shock. This if one of the reasons why it’s fundamental for English learners to do a lot of listening especially at the start, to become used to all the little modifications people make when speaking.
There are also differences in formality. English tends to be a more direct, even short, language. This is very notable in emails, where in Spanish you need to write a long introduction and farewell, in English you barely use a couple of lines and get to the point. Same when speaking, English speakers may sound rude to Spanish ones but that’s the way they talk, it’s nothing personal.
Lastly, there are language variations like Scottish, Indian, Australian, Canadian, Caribbean English and many more. These variations do not only include differences in pronunciation but also in vocabulary, idioms, and even in grammar. However, it is not necessary to understand all of them it will all depend on where you are planning to use your English to know which one to prepare for.
Despite all of these challenges, it’s important to note that many Spanish speakers successfully learn English. Recognizing and understanding these difficulties is the first step in overcoming them. With targeted practice, exposure to the language, and effective learning strategies, Spanish speakers can and do become proficient in English.