Learning French isn't easy vs Learning the French isn't easy

Some examples from the web:

• He is currently learning French as an alternative activity...
• She's learning French right now so she can be more like Jackie Onassis.
• She's learning French, amongst other things.
• I have a feeling it's not learning French or playing Pebble Beach.
• We're learning French and German from a Victrola.
• Tom is very interested in learning French.
• Tom didn't seem terribly interested in learning French.
• They lived happily ever after, though she had great difficulty with English, and Peter never succeeded in learning French.
• Although there was no ban on learning French or English in the region, there was certainly lack of motivation.
• For our defense, We may as well start learning french now, Mr. President.
• And it wasn't easy, but...
• You said science wasn't easy.
• Learning control wasn't easy for her.
• - Paying the insurance wasn't easy.
• Sometimes the truth isn't easy.
• It isn't easy for a woman, Tom.
• French is the opposite of cowboy.
• She said your French is terrible.
• Look, this isn't easy for me.
• This isn't easy for me, Harris.

Some examples from the web:

• Getting killed by the French is my only solution.
• One thing that's always surprised me about the French is the importance they attach to food.
• It provides a guarantee that British lamb sold - dare I say - to the French is safe.
• As far as the ski instructors are concerned, their row with the French is only part of the argument.
• The war with the French is over!
• Mr President, my French is not very good - pardonnez-moi - but I do understand that the French word 'gouvernement' means government in English.
• Everything you know about France and the French is based on clichés, and everything that your Brit boyfriend, Rhys, tells you.
• The French 'rainbow team' did much to confound the xenophobics and racists who, like Mr Le Pen and our unlamented former colleague Mr Mègret, believe that to be French is to be white.
• And it wasn't easy, but...
• You said science wasn't easy.
• Learning control wasn't easy for her.
• - Paying the insurance wasn't easy.
• Sometimes the truth isn't easy.
• It isn't easy for a woman, Tom.
• French is the opposite of cowboy.
• She said your French is terrible.
• And learning the character of our officers.
• Becoming an adult is about learning the distinction.
• Learning the ropes and taking notes.
• Look, this isn't easy for me.