Best Language to Learn
We live in a global world, with increased access to countries and cultures that do not speak English.
In such an environment, picking up a second language is very useful.
But there are thousands of languages.
Even if you limit your count to major languages, you still have dozens to choose from.
This guide will help you decide which language to study.
The Top Three Foreign Languages We're going to focus on three major foreign languages, discuss their pros and cons, and help you decide which one to study.
These three contenders are Spanish, French, and Mandarin Chinese.
Spanish Spanish is the official language of Spain and of twenty countries in Latin America.
There are 500 million Spanish speakers worldwide.
Spanish is also a major language in the United States.
There are 30 million Spanish speakers in the US.
This means that the language will be both immediately useful and easier to practice.
The downside of Spanish is that it is not really a prestige language the way that French and Mandarin are.
As Spanish speakers in the US become wealthier and Latin America continues to develop, this will probably change.
But for now, speaking Spanish, while useful, doesn't have the wow factor of French or Chinese.
French French used to be the main language of international diplomacy.
It is spoken by over 250 million people.
French is an official language in many African countries, which are seeing strong economic growth.
If you plan on a career in global business or international statesmanship, French is a good language to know.
Despite that, French comes with some difficulties.
There are not many French-speaking communities in the United States, so it might be difficult to find a native speaker to practice with.
It may also be less immediately useful.
Mandarin Chinese Learning Chinese provides easier access to China.
China has a huge population, 1.
3 billion people.
Its economy is growing very fast.
Whatever you industry, whatever your interests, the rise of China is probably having an impact on your life.
There are some aspects of Mandarin that native English speakers may find challenging.
First, it is a tonal language.
In English, we shift the tone of our speech to convey sarcasm, or to let people know that we are asking a question.
In Mandarin, tone is a crucial part of speech.
Second, the Chinese writing system uses pictographs, and not letters.
This means that you have to learn a distinct set of glyphs for every word.
The Best Language to Learn French and Mandarin are both useful, and there are reasons to study either of them.
But if you are truly undecided about the best language to learn, go with Spanish.
It's easy to find someone to practice with, and it's useful both in the United States and internationally.
In such an environment, picking up a second language is very useful.
But there are thousands of languages.
Even if you limit your count to major languages, you still have dozens to choose from.
This guide will help you decide which language to study.
The Top Three Foreign Languages We're going to focus on three major foreign languages, discuss their pros and cons, and help you decide which one to study.
These three contenders are Spanish, French, and Mandarin Chinese.
Spanish Spanish is the official language of Spain and of twenty countries in Latin America.
There are 500 million Spanish speakers worldwide.
Spanish is also a major language in the United States.
There are 30 million Spanish speakers in the US.
This means that the language will be both immediately useful and easier to practice.
The downside of Spanish is that it is not really a prestige language the way that French and Mandarin are.
As Spanish speakers in the US become wealthier and Latin America continues to develop, this will probably change.
But for now, speaking Spanish, while useful, doesn't have the wow factor of French or Chinese.
French French used to be the main language of international diplomacy.
It is spoken by over 250 million people.
French is an official language in many African countries, which are seeing strong economic growth.
If you plan on a career in global business or international statesmanship, French is a good language to know.
Despite that, French comes with some difficulties.
There are not many French-speaking communities in the United States, so it might be difficult to find a native speaker to practice with.
It may also be less immediately useful.
Mandarin Chinese Learning Chinese provides easier access to China.
China has a huge population, 1.
3 billion people.
Its economy is growing very fast.
Whatever you industry, whatever your interests, the rise of China is probably having an impact on your life.
There are some aspects of Mandarin that native English speakers may find challenging.
First, it is a tonal language.
In English, we shift the tone of our speech to convey sarcasm, or to let people know that we are asking a question.
In Mandarin, tone is a crucial part of speech.
Second, the Chinese writing system uses pictographs, and not letters.
This means that you have to learn a distinct set of glyphs for every word.
The Best Language to Learn French and Mandarin are both useful, and there are reasons to study either of them.
But if you are truly undecided about the best language to learn, go with Spanish.
It's easy to find someone to practice with, and it's useful both in the United States and internationally.
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