Is it really that difficult all these “ der/die/ das” in German instead of one THE?

Aber natürlich!!!  At least it is unusual for a native English speaker. But it is also very rewarding once you got it into your system. 
Create a habit which helps you to learn it with ease and more importantly not getting irritated with the German language! Just accept that without " der/die/ das" there will not be the German language like there will not be a bike without wheels, I mean a proper bike, of course 

The secret is: from the very first class PLEASE learn any noun with an article which gives you a gender of that noun:

DER Baum (masculine ) - the tree

DIE Schule ( feminine ) - the school 

DAS Buch ( neuter) - the book

I have created a strategy, which helps you to remember. When learning, just be aware of one thing: Schule, Schule, Schule..... no, stop, wrong!!!
When you learn a noun, I mean ANY NOUN, there should be 2 words, one is DER or DIE or DAS  + a noun.
So you learn - die Schule, die Schule, die Schule- yeees! That's right.

der Tisch, der Tisch, der Tisch - Well done!

das Fenster, das Fenster, das Fenster -That is it! Perfekt !

Without all these " der/ die/ das" no one can really speak German nicely, the way it should be spoken correctly. When you know more, you will be stunned how logically this language is built. One day you will even like its structure. Maybe just because of all these" der/ die/das"

With time it is going to be easier and easier. I promise. 
Geht doch, oder?👍