It is interesting that I can quite easily assimilate how radically Japanese syntax differs from English syntax. At least at the elementary level where I am operating, verbs always go at the end of the sentence (with or without an interrogative particle), temporal adverbs and/or statements go at the beginning, descriptive adverbial phrases in the middle, direct objects come right before the verb.
By contrast, differences between German syntax and English are much harder. Remembering to put temporal adverbs right after the verb, before indirect and/or direct objects, for example, takes a lot of focus. Also putting verbs at the end of dependent clauses, though that was eased back in the day by learning to sing the prepositions that make clauses dependent (aus, ausser, bei, mit, nach, zeit, von, zu) to the tune of the Blue Danube. Unfortunately, DuoLingo doesn't offer that kind of tip.
Almost certainly, accepting the difference of German syntax takes much more effort than that of Japanese because my native English syntactical instincts are butting their little heads in all the time when I'm dealing with German. Some little voice in there is saying "I got this" when in fact I don't.
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