Should I Take Spanish or French?

One of the best ways to challenge yourself and expand your worldview is by learning a second language. But we hear you—learning a second language can be difficult, frustrating, time-consuming, and confusing. However, even in this extremely connected world, there are still obstacles to better understanding one another because of language barriers.

Choosing the right language to study can set your future in motion.

For native English speakers, two popular second languages to learn are Spanish and French. Now, let’s be honest: When we have to choose a second language to learn, we all want the easiest choice. We’re looking at you, middle and high schoolers!

If English is your first language, you can’t go wrong with learning Spanish, especially as an American. And while learning French may help you in your travels or international career one day, it can be more difficult to learn at first.

Nonetheless, learning either French or Spanish will allow you to understand a culture that you would not otherwise have access to, all while becoming a more capable, well-rounded individual.

So…is French or Spanish easier?

This all depends on how much effort you are willing to put into your language learning studies. Spanish may be easier to learn at first, but the vowels, past tense rules, and conjugation can make it more challenging as you progress in your learning journey. On the other hand, once you get the basics of French down, like consonants and accent, it may be just as easy as Spanish to you.

Now while that’s all great to know, you may still be wondering whether you should take Spanish or French. The best way to decide is to think about your interests, heritage, lifestyle, and your travel bucket list. Do you have family members or friends who speak Spanish? In that case, it might be easier to learn Spanish because you’ll be able to practice more often and make better use of the language.

It’s not about “easier”—it’s about figuring out which language you want to learn most!

Further, are most of the countries on your travel bucket list Spanish-speaking countries, like Spain, Mexico, Costa Rica, or Guatemala? Spanish might be better for you to learn first because you are motivated by your desire to use and learn the language on your travels.

Conversely, if you are obsessed with crepes, macarons, or soufflés, then French may be the easiest language for you. Want to get in touch with your French heritage and speak like your ancestors used to? Try learning French!

Being excited about a language and its culture will make you more engaged and enthusiastic about the language learning process, which will ultimately make it easier to study. Another way you can learn French and its culture is by traveling and studying French abroad. Learn French while abroad and live in France, Switzerland, Canada, and more!

READ: 8 Benefits of Learning a Foreign Language in High School

Is French or Spanish easier to learn in high school?

Determining whether French or Spanish is easier to learn in high school depends on a couple of factors.

First, you want to think about your future. Do you want to study abroad in France or intern abroad in Spain while in college? Are you considering taking a break from your studies with a gap year in Costa Rica? Do you want to work for the United Nations someday, where French is the required second language? Ask yourself where you want to go, what you want to learn, and why.

Next, think about your interests. The excitement you get about traveling abroad to learn and study a language will make you more engaged, and therefore the language learning journey becomes easier and more enjoyable.

Or, instead of waiting for future language learning travels, think of now! Participate in a high school student exchange program. Make new friends while practicing your French or Spanish with someone who is a native speaker.

“Easy” is subjective. The answers to the above will determine whether French or Spanish is easier to learn, for you. But if you still feel like you’re without direction, think about it this way—in the United States, Spanish is wide spread and a practical skill. In turn, this could make it easier and more motivating to learn Spanish in high school.

READ: Can You Study Abroad in High School?

French vs. Spanish difficulty

A study group can make language learning both easier and more fun!

Here are some of the pros and cons of studying the French and Spanish languages.

• Learning both the French and Spanish past tense rules can be difficult.
• Spanish pronunciation is easier to the English native speaker, while the French accent can be difficult to master.
• The French language has sounds that are unfamiliar to a native English speaker.
• Inability to roll the tongue can make speaking Spanish a challenge.
• Spanish grammar is considered more difficult to understand than French grammar.
• The vocabulary of the French language is less challenging because of the similar words French and English share.
• Vocabulary is harder to learn in Spanish because there are less similar words to the English language.
• Silent letters and similar sounding letters create more challenges while learning to speak Spanish or French.
• Both French and Spanish are phonetic languages, which means the word is pronounced in the same way the word looks written down.
• There are more opportunities to practice the Spanish language in the United States.
• Both French and Spanish are Romance languages, while English is Germanic—therefore, you’re looking at new grammar rules either way.

READ: Should You Take a Third Year of Foreign Language?

Is it better to learn French or Spanish in high school? In middle school?

The sooner you start immersing yourself in a new language, the sooner you will learn. Starting Spanish or French in middle school can set you up to learn the languages abroad in high school or later on in college.

Beginning your language learning journey in high school has great benefits as well. It can prepare you to study abroad during your college years or maybe during a gap year. Beyond that, you can use your language skills in a job abroad or even in a job in your own country!

Who knows where your language skills will take you?

Obviously, there are a myriad of benefits to learning the French and Spanish languages. However, if you are serious about starting to learn Spanish or French, here are some tips to help you decide.

1. Think about which language and culture excites you the most.
2. Decide which language will give you the most opportunities in life.
3. Determine how far you want to go in your language learning process. Do you want to be fluent? If so, we recommend starting sooner rather than later.
4. Get engaged with French and/or Spanish culture to figure out which culture you are interested in. Watch films, listen to music, and go to a restaurant where they serve either French or Spanish food.
5. Study up on the history and politics of French or Spanish speaking countries. Decide if you think their history is fascinating or boring.
6. Look up language learning clubs you can join in your area. You might even find a group of new friends while learning a new language together!
7. Try a language learning app. You don’t have to go headfirst into learning French or Spanish, take baby steps. Use apps to test out which language you would prefer to learn.
8. Figure out if you would rather visit and travel to a Spanish or French speaking country.
9. Explore various language learning programs that you would be interested in doing like high school language programs.

High School French Language Programs

• Nice, France: French Immersion Summer Program
• AFS Intercultural Programs: High School Abroad in France
• French Summer Immersion for Teenagers in Monaco, France
• MEI International Academy Summer in France and Switzerland
• Study Abroad in France with Greenheart Travel
• TFT: France – French Language Immersion (22 Days)

High School Spanish Language Programs

• Spanish Language & Costa Rican Culture
• Teen Language Camp in Salamanca, Spain with Greenheart
• Spanish Camp—Summer Camp in Costa Rica

Get matched with 5 high school language programs for FREE

Should you take Spanish or French? Let adventure decide!

It’s all up to you and your goals.

Ultimately, the decision is yours to decide if you should take Spanish or French. If you pick a language just because it’s “easy”, you’ll lack real motivation and you may not do well while learning the language. Make sure to go with the language that motivates and excites you the most, whether that’s French or Spanish!