[tiwil]

I am a web developer my self and what I can suggest was to learn PHP first specially the basics so that you will learn Laravel faster.

Actually, if you're a web developer you must be can definitely tell the difference between Laravel and PHP. PHP is a programming language where mainly used for web developing, while Laravel is a framework that built under PHP. If you're coding a Laravel project, then you're also coding a PHP. It's two different things.

And before jump in to Laravel, at least the developer must have experience first in PHP. Otherwise, you will go crazy and puzzled when get back to native PHP.
Laravel offers fast development, all shortcut there and we can develop complex system so easily (actually, not really).

Edit: I just realized that it is 2016 thread, which is 4 years old. Apologize!