When people talk about learning a new language, you’ll often hear things like “Chinese is impossible!” or “You need to grow up with Russian to ever get it right.” But what really makes a language difficult to learn? Let’s break down the myths and look at the reality—with examples from various languages offered in many European language courses.

Myth 1: “Tonal Languages Are Too Hard”

Reality: Tonality is just one feature.

Yes, Mandarin Chinese uses tones, but so do other languages like Swedish and Latvian—just in more subtle ways. Tonal distinctions can be learned with training and exposure. It’s like developing an ear for music.

Myth 2: “Grammar Complexity Equals Difficulty”

Reality: It depends on your native language.

Estonian or Finnish might seem grammar-heavy to English speakers due to extensive case systems. But a Hungarian speaker may find Estonian more familiar. Similarly, Russian’s aspectual verb system confuses English learners, but not native speakers of Slavic languages.

Myth 3: “Different Alphabets Make It Impossible”

Reality: Scripts are barriers you can overcome quickly.

Cyrillic in Russian or Bulgarian, or the unique letters in Icelandic (like þ and ð), may look intimidating. But learners often master the new script within weeks. It’s no harder than learning cursive or typing on a new keyboard layout.

Myth 4: “You Have to Be Young to Learn”

Reality: Adults may even have an advantage.

Adults can bring stronger study habits and motivation. Many learners successfully tackle Lithuanian or Norwegian as a second, third, or even fifth language later in life.

Language learning difficulty isn’t absolute—it’s relative. What’s hard for one person may feel natural to another, depending on their background, exposure, and motivation. The real key? Consistency, context, and curiosity.