Yes. And no. As someone who’s been speaking Urdu her entire life and now teaches it full-time, I believe there is no simple answer to this. Learning Urdu can be difficult or easy, depending on your approach.
Several things may make learning Urdu difficult. You might find it unfamiliar due to its script and grammar conventions. Perhaps the lack of good quality resources (that suit your needs) might discourage you. On the other hand, you might find speaking Urdu easy if you have someone around you who speaks Urdu. So you may already know many Urdu words.
But before we come to the approach of learning Urdu, the first step for you would be to find out why you even want to learn Urdu. Before diving into the technicalities of the language-learning process, it’s important to know your why. Knowing your reason(s) for learning any language will help shape your approach and experience in a way that relates to the end-goal that you wish to achieve by the means of knowing this language. Also, if any challenges come along the way, it’ll become a source of motivation for you.
So, think for a moment. Why should one learn Urdu?
Why learn Urdu?
Urdu is a beautifully poetic language. By learning it, an entirely new world of poetry, music, and media becomes open to you. Pakistani dramas are watched all over the world by millions of people. There’s significant viewership in India, UK, USA, Afghanistan, Turkey, and countries in the Middle East, etc. Plus, who doesn’t know about Bollywood? If you know Urdu, watching Bollywood films becomes a lot more fun because spoken Urdu and spoken Hindi are quite similar. If you know conversational Urdu, you’ll understand conversational Hindi easily. So your efforts with one language will lead to learning two new languages. How cool is that?
Another significant reason for learning Urdu is the potential for connection. Urdu is the first language of around 70 million people! Another hundred million people worldwide speak Urdu as their second language. Learning this fascinating language, thus, allows you to connect with them. In addition, if one day you decide to travel to Pakistan or India, knowing Urdu can come in quite handy. Pakistan and India are both wonderfully diverse countries with many different languages. Urdu is the national language of Pakistan and hold an official status in India. Speaking Urdu means you’ll be able to connect with people from a variety of cultures. You’ll find it easier to explore these diverse countries in such meaningful ways that you’ll be amazed why you didn’t visit sooner!
Over 450 people from 16 countries across the world have learned how to speak Urdu through “Urdu with Annie”. It reflects how popular Urdu learning has been in the last few years.
Now, let’s move on to what hurdles you may encounter when learning Urdu. Awareness of potential challenges is important if you want to begin on the right note. It helps you mentally prepare yourself to tackle these challenges if and when they arise.
Initial Challenges for Urdu Learners
Different sentence structure: Urdu follows the SOV word order!
If you take a generic look at Urdu and its sentence structure, you’ll find that it follows the SOV sentence structure (subject-object-verb). Although different from English, it’s not as uncommon as an English speaker might think. Many languages, including Korean, Japanese, Persian, and Turkish, use this sentence structure word order. In fact, SOV is present in 564 languages, making it the most common out of all the other sentence structures! So, don’t be daunted by it. Chances are, if you speak any language other than English, you’re already familiar with this word order. If not, it’s still okay! All you need is some practice, and you’ll master it in no time.
Grammar: Objects also have genders in Urdu
Urdu is a gendered language. This might confuse you if you speak a non-gendered language (e.g., English). Why is a chair (kursi) feminine, but a piece of cloth (kupra) masculine? What’s the point of this gendering system for inanimate objects? Well, this gendering system is just one way to create the melody of Urdu sentences.
In Urdu, the objects’ genders generally depend on what the object’s name sounds like. Something that ends in or has an “AA” sound is typically considered masculine, and something that ends in or has an “EE” sound is generally considered feminine. E.g., “Joota” is a masculine Urdu noun meaning shoe, while “Jooti” is a feminine Urdu noun meaning the same thing. Learn more about exceptions!
Just note that Urdu is not the only language that follows this system. French, Arabic, Spanish, and Hindi are four widely spoken languages worldwide, and they’re all gendered! The gender patterns they follow are quite similar to Urdu as well. For instance, the default gender is masculine. For mixed-gender groups, Urdu uses male forms of verbs. And feminine words are usually derived from masculine words, such as jethaani (meaning: brother-in-law’s wife) from jeth (meaning: brother-in-law) in Urdu.
So, if you’re intimidated by the grammatical specifics of Urdu, don’t worry. Many native speakers also get confused. As you keep learning, you’ll get the hang of the grammar. Even if you make a few mistakes along the way, it’s okay. Language learning is a long-life journey. Nobody expects you to be perfect. Many Urdu speakers would be happy to correct and guide you if you’re confused about word usage.
Non-Latin script
A major concern for Urdu learners can be the non-Latin script, especially if their first language uses the Latin script (like English or French). Sometimes, Urdu is written in the English script (called English transliteration or Roman Urdu), and you’ll find many resources like this online. I believe that language learning should be inclusive and accessible to everyone. I use English transliteration in my classes and learning tools, so you don’t have to learn Urdu script first to speak Urdu. This is because verbal communication is at the core of human interaction. So, my classes are geared towards teaching colloquial, conversational Urdu. The focus is on listening, understanding, and speaking.
Of course, that does require reading and writing, but all of it is in Roman Urdu. It gives you the space to learn Urdu conversation first. You can communicate in Urdu without worrying about learning a new script. Another reason for using English transliteration is its popularity among native speakers. If you have an Urdu-speaking friend, chances are their Urdu texts, and social media posts are in the English script, not Urdu. Also, like most bilingual people, Pakistanis often speak both Urdu and English simultaneously. So, if you’re speaking Urdu and don’t know a word, feel free to use the English equivalent. Your Urdu-speaking friends would probably be doing the same.
You can’t find the right resources.
Language learning is a journey you can embark on at any age, but you need the right resources to sustain your initial spark of interest. Age-appropriate resources come into play here. For a 30-year-old, Urdu rhymes on YouTube may seem too childish. For a 5-year-old, these same rhymes will make learning Urdu numbers or other vocabularies an enjoyable experience. So, you see, resources need to be age-appropriate to allow for effective language learning. It can be a daunting task for anyone to find good quality resources to learn Urdu, especially the ones that work best for them.
At Urdu with Annie, we prioritize providing the right resources for all learners. My decade-long experience in teaching and a degree in educational leadership means I fully understand how to cater to learners of all age groups. I use a variety of resources in my classes. From the class material and activities to the weekly learning resources and assignments, I design everything keeping my learners’ needs in mind. Everything is tailored differently for kids, teens, and adults. This way, learning to speak Urdu becomes inclusive, engaging, and comfortable for all my learners, whether it’s a 5-year-old, a 15-year-old, or a 35-year-old.
How to Make Learning Urdu Easy and Convenient?
Be SMART about your goals.
When you are starting to learn a language, what’s the first thing you need? The motivation to start learning it. It’s what, quite literally, pushes you to start. Even if there are obstacles along the way, you’d be willing to tackle them because you’d know why you began in the first place. But what’s motivation without goals? Imagine you start riding a bicycle but don’t know where to go. What will you do? Without a destination, you wouldn’t know what direction to bike. Goals are the stepping stones that allow us to reach our destination. If you use your initial drive to understand and set timely, realistic, and achievable goals for yourself, you’d be able to sustain your motivation and continue on your journey.
For my classes, I define the learning goals at the beginning of each week. I give my students a roadmap of what their time with me will look like. So at Urdu With Annie, you’ll know that each lesson is a step in the right direction in your Urdu learning journey.
In addition, goals prevent you from feeling lost and help you feel accomplished when you learn something new. It can include learning a new set of vocab or the sentence structure used for a particular tense. From my teaching experience, I’ve learned that this sense of accomplishment is immensely valuable. It triggers a cycle where success leads to motivation, which leads to more effort and, eventually, greater success. Accomplishing one goal, no matter how big or small, will encourage and motivate you to work towards more of your language-learning goals.
While setting goals is essential, knowing how effective they are is also important. I highly recommend setting both short-term and long-term goals for yourself. What areas, whether grammar, vocabulary, or sentence structure, do you aim to focus on in a particular week? What days you’d dedicate to which topics? How many words do you intend to have learned by the end of a day’s study session? Try to be as specific as possible. Break down your big, overwhelming goals (“study present tense in Urdu”) into as many smaller chunks as possible (“study simple present tense in first person from handout”, “do simple present tense practice questions on page 10”, etc.). Specific goals are effective. They give you a clear idea of what you’re supposed to do. Goals are also effective when they’re realistic and achievable. Don’t expect yourself to become fluent in Urdu in one month!
If you’re not sure how to set effective goals, I suggest looking into SMART goals. SMART is an acronym for the criteria your goals must meet to be valuable and effective. SMART stands for:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Achievable
- Relevant
- Time-bound
Urdu is not that unique.
It is not unusual for learners to feel anxious when they start learning a new language. They’d have to step out of their comfort zone to learn something new. Our first language is so natural to us that we hardly ever actively consider its rules, systems, and conventions. But for beginners, even basic concepts and words in those same languages can get very confusing.
However, you should know that you are not alone in feeling this anxiousness. Foreign language anxiety is a common phenomenon. One study found that students learning non-Latin-based languages faced greater anxiety than those learning Latin-based languages. As we mentioned earlier, Urdu is a non-Latin language. If you’re a speaker of any Latin language, such as English, and are looking to learn Urdu, it is natural to feel anxious. Just remember that Urdu is similar to many languages, and these similarities may aid your learning!
For instance, the sentence structure in Urdu (subject-object-verb) is common to so many languages, including Japanese, Korean, Turkic languages, and all Indo-Iranian languages. Even if you don’t speak these but know some Dutch or French, understanding Urdu’s SOV order won’t take long!
Plus, Urdu borrows from and shares many words with other languages. These include Persian, Hindi, Turkish – and also English! Several Urdu idioms like “topi pehnaana” or “neki aur pooch pooch” originated from Persian. Plus, many Urdu words like pajama, khaki, and jungle are commonly used in English.
The right resources are out there!
No matter how dedicated you are to giving your time and attention to a new language. Some obstacles, like a lack of quality education and engaging resources, can hinder your progress. They can diminish your interest and might even make you consider giving up. A recent survey found that 71% of Americans lost touch with a second language they had previously learned. Why was this? Out of the reasons they reported, nearly half gave up due to boredom, difficulty, or the lack of opportunities to practice the language. It’s important that language educators and learners alike must stay mindful of them.
Firstly, try to find the difficulty level that works for you. I design my course material to be of a moderate difficulty level. The challenge motivates learners to continue learning, but it doesn’t get so burdensome that they give up. For example, in my weekly subscription classes for both kids and adults, I aim to gradually build learners’ vocabulary and concepts. The systematic progression builds on what they already know, while simultaneously allowing them to learn something new each time. A balance between “not too easy” and “not too difficult” is ideal. Psychologically, this is what leads to a state of flow! This isn’t just a strategy to keep learners engaged, it is a research-backed way of staying focused and persistent when performing any task.
Secondly, I make the learning process interesting. Whether it’s kids, teens, or adults, I use several techniques and integrate ed-tech to engage students’ interests and maintain a fun and relaxing classroom learning environment. These include gamified quizzes on Kahoot!, or activities like Tic Tac Toe, Bingo, Simon Says, and many other uniquely created games and content. I also use multimedia so learners can grasp the real-life context of the knowledge they acquire in class.
Finally, finding fun content in your target language is a great idea! I give “breaks” in learning during classes by adding jokes, riddles, or tongue twisters to class material. These are wonderful for classroom practice. After absorbing knowledge, students must take a few moments to think independently about what they’ve learned so far. In trying to answer a riddle or understand a joke, they recall what they’ve been absorbing and make connections between old and new information. This connection-building further consolidates the knowledge in their memory. An added benefit of tongue twisters is that they’re excellent for improving pronunciation! 😉
Spotify and YouTube are your friends!
We’ve extensively discussed the challenges of learning Urdu. Taking a systematic approach by opting for the right materials and setting the right goals is a great way of tackling these challenges. However, did you notice that I keep using the word “journey” to refer to the entire learning process? I truly believe that learning is a journey and not just a process you finish over the course of a few weeks or months. That’s why I offer advanced courses after my Urdu 101 beginner courses. There are also subscription courses that allow learners to continue progressing in Urdu throughout the year.
So, if learning Urdu is really a journey, then why not have some fun while we’re at it? That’s where the use of multimedia comes in! I incorporate rhymes, Bollywood songs, cartoons, fun movie scenes, and many other things from YouTube in all my courses. Be it a kid, teen, or adult, everyone should have fun while learning Urdu. Engaging class content, gamified quizzes, and various other resources will keep you even more engaged with Urdu With Annie.
So, does a Bollywood song count as a language resource? Yes! Take the 50s hit Mera Joota Hai Japani, for instance. Wonderful resource if you want to learn different nationalities in Urdu (Japani, Inglistani, Rusi, and Hindustani).
If you’re not into music, there are other options. Shows, movies, cartoons, etc., are all forms of popular media. They show you how your target language is used practically, in daily life, by native speakers. Textbooks can’t always teach you all this. To truly understand a language’s practical workings, turning to popular culture is something I highly recommend!
Take it one step at a time!
Okay, I have already discussed how knowing the Urdu script is not a prerequisite for learning to speak Urdu. Roman Urdu is quite accessible and commonly used. It’s what I use in my classes, and it works for my students! Occasionally, though, I’d get a learner who’d say, “I want to learn to read Urdu.” That’s wonderful! I’m always glad when learners show interest in the script – it’s truly beautiful. But, as an educator, I recommend you begin with learning to speak a language. Once you grasp speaking, you can move on to the script. It makes the learning process less overwhelming and more wholesome and practical for you. If you’re familiar with spoken Urdu, understanding the alphabet and how it connects to form words becomes much easier.
Let me share Nirmal’s story. She’s a native Sindhi speaker. She’s fluent in the Sindhi language and speaks it at home every day. Even though she has known Sindhi since birth, she learned to read and write in it quite later in her childhood. Her parents taught her at home, and the reading and writing lessons lasted only for a few months. However, despite any formal instruction in written Sindhi, if you give her a book or newspaper, she’d be able to tell you the gist of what it says. How does she manage it if she’s barely familiar with the alphabet? Because she knows the words verbally. Looking at individual alphabets, she might not be able to tell you the sound they make. But when you string them together in the form of a word, she connects the unfamiliar letter sounds with the familiar ones and can pronounce the word. And tell you what it means! Because she speaks the language.
Therefore, I highly recommend learners take it one step at a time. Start with whatever you’re familiar with. Start with what you already know. It will make learning Urdu so much easier for you.
While the focus here is Urdu, you can apply these ideas to any language. Whether you take classes or not or use a particular textbook or not, you can still find value in the approaches shared above.
You can set SMART goals. You can enter a state of flow by adjusting the difficulty level of your study sessions. You can look up media content in your target language on Netflix or YouTube. Not only will you get entertained, but you will also immerse yourself in your target language and the associated culture! If shows and movies are not your thing, you can find other options that suit your interests. You can listen to a podcast in your target language during your commute to and from work. You can find playlists in your target language on Spotify. The possibilities are endless!
Finally, returning to where we started (with a slightly different approach): is learning Urdu easy? Not exactly. Is learning Urdu difficult? Not at all! Like I said earlier, no language is either entirely easy to learn or entirely difficult. Just like every individual is different, so is everyone’s language-learning experience. But as the saying goes, if you want to make an omelet in life, you’ve got to break a few eggs. If you want to be bilingual (or even a polyglot), you’ve got to push yourself a little past the barriers, right? I’m sure that with the right mindset and the right tools by your side, learning to speak Urdu will truly be a meaningful and enjoyable experience for you!
Choose any of Urdu With Annie’s class for kids, teens, or adults to start your Urdu learning journey today! And subscribe to Urdu With Annie’s emails to receive helpful resources right in your inbox.
