Here's a breakdown of factors that can influence your experience:
Spanish:
* Advantages:
* Familiarity with the Roman alphabet: You already know the basic letters.
* Exposure to Spanish words/phrases: Many English words have Spanish roots, and you may have encountered Spanish in media, music, or daily life.
* Large resource pool: Plenty of textbooks, apps, online courses, and communities to help you learn.
* Disadvantages:
* Grammar rules: Spanish grammar can be quite complex and different from English grammar.
* Pronunciation: Certain sounds can be challenging for English speakers to master.
* Written Spanish: It requires mastering written language, which may not be your strongest skill.
Sign Language:
* Advantages:
* Visual learning: Many people find visual learning more engaging and effective.
* No written component: You only need to focus on the signs themselves.
* Unique and expressive: Sign language is a beautiful and expressive language.
* Disadvantages:
* Completely different language system: There are no similarities to spoken English, so everything needs to be learned from scratch.
* Limited exposure: You may not have much exposure to sign language in your daily life, making it harder to practice.
* Visual and spatial memory: Strong visual and spatial memory is important for mastering sign language.
Ultimately, the best course for you depends on:
* Your learning style: Do you prefer visual or auditory learning?
* Your goals: Do you want to travel to Spanish-speaking countries or communicate with deaf people?
* Your previous language experience: Have you learned other languages before?
My recommendation:
* Try both! Take a beginner's class in both Spanish and sign language and see which you enjoy more.
* Consider your personal interests and goals: Which language would be more useful or meaningful to you?
Learning any language is challenging but rewarding. Choose the language that motivates you and stick with it!