Which language is more difficult: German or Italian?
Well, objectively speaking, Italian is much moredifficult.Italian has more verb times and modes than German (and more complicated conjugation patterns), the subclauses are a nightmare because of the Consecutio Temporum, the double pronouns and the combined prepositions as well.
German basically has a greater vocabulary (but smaller than English) if one wants to emphasize a real and measurable difficulty of this language.
I know really few people who masterItalian on a C2 level.(You can also pass an exam because you were lucky or had a certain strategy.) German, on the other hand? Quite a lot.
Many South Tyroleans reach only one intermediate level (B1/B2, with many mistakes especially at imperfetto/passato prossimo or remoto) despite numerous courses and lessons and almost daily encounters with Italian.I am not talking about people who only ever spend their lives in a German-speaking village. I’m talking about people with a high school diploma or a degree.
Of course, the average Internet user has a different opinion.The reasons for this are quite simple:
- the beginning in German is difficult.
You have to get used to a unique structure. But if you survive this phase, there are no more surprises – at least not from the perspective a) of a person who had grammar at school b) a person whose mother tongue is relatively complicated.
Does not apply to language courses, of course!
I hope that at that time it was only academic envy (I had just dealt with a relatively unknown subject).Speaking of which: several times I was considered an English and also German native speaker…
The motivations that lead to learning are also different: Italian for the trip and for a few undemanding conversations vs. German for the university, for research or for the profession (i.e. at least B2 with a certain correctness and with pressure, getting better).
Without grammar, it becomes impossible to start German at all (or to learn Italian at all, because at some point the “Una birra, per favore!” -phase over!)
Really? But that’s the way it is: this user even gets upvotes and approval. Now the question is: can we then also use Prolo-German and broken German as the standard for learners? 😀
One asks what exactly one means by an ambiguous word? also.
I would also have a very personal opinion on this, and this is that many DaF/DaZ teachers are not good in the true sense.They waste a lot of time using unnecessary “alternative” methods just to look “cool” and modern… and get good reviews from some institute managers! My dear people! Learners pay to learn German. If you don’t explain the “boring” things, you don’t learn German. Yes, declinations and conjugations (and other systematizations and analyses) are boring, but they are also the necessary tools to use a language on your own. It is still possible to bring language lessons to life, but of course you also need the boring hour. Especially at the beginning, because the A1 is the most difficult level for many learners (also depends on the mother tongue).
It is no different in Italian, but see above: few reach certain levels in Italian, so you can see the consequences of this stupidity… ahem, modernization less.
I was once told not to write a conjugation table because it is an outdated didactics.Lol! Of course, I don’t use an hour (and 10 minutes) on a table, but please… how are the learners supposed to systematize what they have learned?
