What Language Should I Learn? Take The Quiz To Find Out
What Language Should I Learn? Take The Quiz To Find Out
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Which Language Should I Learn?
Are you considering learning a new language? Congratulations, if this is the case. You're about to start on an exciting and rewarding adventure with several advantages.
However, you may have wondered, "What language should I learn?" That's certainly one of the most interesting questions you can ponder.
However, the question might be daunting. Not sure where to start? You're not alone. There are so many interesting and beautiful languages to learn that picking just one may be difficult.
Which languages are the most beneficial to learn? What languages are the most widely spoken and easiest to learn?
To achieve personal success, why not learn important languages? If you're looking for an answer to the same question, you've come to the right place.
How can you select only one language when there are so many options and so many beautiful languages in the world? To be honest, it's a process - but one that's enjoyable!
Choosing a language requires reflection and research. Consider the following inquiry:
What are my objectives and passions?
How much time do I have to devote to studying?
What do I find myself drawn to?
What is my motivation for learning a new language?
There are now over 7,000 languages spoken worldwide. More than half of the world's population speaks one of the top 23 languages, and 40% of the world's languages are endangered, with fewer than 1,000 active speakers, so you're spoiled for choice when it comes to deciding which one to study.
You could be drawn to a foreign language because you like a certain culture. Or maybe you just enjoy the sound of it. Each of us has a distinct motivation for learning a foreign language. Maybe it's for the sake of love. Maybe you're relocating to a different country. It's possible that all you need to do now is study for the test.
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you probably already know the language you want to study. Perhaps you, on the other hand, are a little more realistic. Maybe it's about making the most of your possibilities - for career and business, or for travel. If that's the case, I'm here to provide some inspiration.
When I initially started this blog, I assumed that most readers had made up their minds about the languages they wanted to study, but the numerous emails I receive every day appear to indicate otherwise! Many of them are inquiring as to what I believe they should study.
Learning a language is not always easy, so you must be certain that you are learning the right language before you begin. Why do we learn languages? And how do we choose what language to learn next?
Many people who are thinking about learning a new language, believe it or not, are uncertain which language to learn or must decide between various options.
After all, there are several variables to consider while selecting which language to learn. How difficult will it be to learn? Which language will help you advance in your profession, or which foreign language will provide you with more work opportunities? Which one will be the most suitable for your next vacation? What foreign language is the most "in-demand"? It's a difficult choice that needs a lot of research and contemplation.
It's a decision that may have a significant influence on your life: where you go on vacation, who you meet, and possibly even which country you decide to live in and who you marry!
RELATED: The Top 25 Hardest Languages To Learn For English Speakers.
That’s where I can help. If you're not sure which language to learn, this quiz will help you figure out which one best fits your interests and personality. Continue reading after the quiz for additional information on how to choose which language to learn!
This quiz considers a variety of factors, including the difficulty of learning the language when deciding which language you should study. While no quiz can guarantee the perfect answer for everyone, it can guide you in the right direction on your learning path. Oh, and make sure you read your results for any suggestions on where to begin.
What do you do now that you've received your results? Well, it’s entirely up to you! If you don't like your result, simply reload the quiz and repeat the "What language should you learn?" quiz. If you believe you are ready to begin studying, there are several options available to you. Here is one of them to get you started on your language learning journey:
Get started learning a language with the Pimsleur. No matter which option you choose, happy learning!
Learning a language alters who you are, your perception of the world, and your interactions with it. You'll be inspired by new experiences you've never had before. I am excited for you if you have yet to study a second language.
Some people are more suited to the romantic tones of French, while others are better suited to the staccato rhythms of modern Italian. Are you ready for the task of learning a new alphabet for Korean or Japanese, or would you rather study a language that is easier to understand, such as Spanish?
Why not take the initiative and open doors for yourself? Learn a second language overseas and give yourself the gift that keeps on giving, from new job opportunities to new contacts to new travel opportunities. Not to mention the enjoyment you'll get from visiting historical sites, participating in exciting activities, and sampling delectable cuisine!
You'll be broadening your global perspectives in a significant way whether you study a romance language, a European language, or an Eastern language.
Because of globalization, most individuals nowadays, particularly the younger generations, desire to acquire a second or even a third language. The impact of your favourite movie or series, as well as your favourite musician or band, may affect your desire to learn a language.
People wish to learn for a variety of reasons, including business, travel, and academic pursuits. Whatever the case may be, learning new languages will benefit you in the long run. It will, in fact, benefit you in the long term.
While everyone has their own motivations for learning a new language, it's worth taking the time to consider the many advantages of doing so. Whatever language you choose, you can expect to develop a sharper intellect and make new friends!
We'll take a look at a few of these factors to see which language is ideal for you. I'll give you a simple, easy-to-follow approach to picking your next language based on a few questions.
In just moments you’ll discover:
How to figure out which language to learn
Finding your “why” when deciding what language to learn
The four major ways that a language might be easy or hard
What makes a language useful to learn
Learning a language for travel
Learning a language for career opportunities
Learning a language in preparation for immigration or foreign studies
Learning additional languages: building on what you know
What is the easiest language to learn for English speakers
Why learn a difficult language
Why learn a commonly spoken language
Learning an obscure language
If you want to learn a language with a script
What language will make you stand out from the crowd
What’s the next step once you’ve figured out which language(s) you want to learn
Let's begin with a couple of the most crucial questions:
The best languages to learn — based on why you want to learn, how easy languages are, and how many people speak them.
Some of the many benefits of learning a language include:
Travel with ease.
More job opportunities, including a higher income with being bilingual or multilingual.
Being able to communicate with loved ones (family, romantic relationships, make new friends).
Not as many people may be up for the challenge or haven’t learned a language, whereas you could fit into a population of people being able to speak a foreign language that could lead to more opportunities.
Many people have looked online for answers to the question, "What language should I learn?" If you're reading this, you're probably interested in learning a new language but don't know where to begin. As I previously stated, there are several factors to consider while selecting a language to learn.
From your hobbies to your learning style, this quiz considers a variety of factors to consider while choosing a language for your learning plan. Take this quick quiz to find out which language is the greatest fit for you.
How Can I Decide Which Language To Learn?
Learning a new language is exciting and may lead to a variety of new experiences and adventures. It also provides insight into different cultures. It might be difficult to decide which language to start with, whether you're studying a new language for enjoyment or for travel.
The Romance languages — Spanish, French, and Italian – are among the most popular for English speakers to study. This is due to a long history of contact between speakers of various European languages and English culture. You may also enjoy Italian culture and cuisine and wish to learn the language. Or because Paris is likely to be your top trip destination, French is a safe bet.
On the other hand, if you're looking for a challenge, Japanese or Korean might be ideal. As more Westerners contemplate living and working overseas, Asian languages such as Japanese and Korean are becoming increasingly popular.
Choosing one of these fascinating languages to learn requires some reflection into your objectives and interests, as well as an assessment of how much time you can devote to studying. You may also have personal motives for learning a language, such as having native speakers among your friends or family.
Each language has its own characteristics that make learning enjoyable. You could choose to try your hand at a few other languages or concentrate on just one. Read on to find out which language you should study next, whether you want to become bilingual or a polyglot.
Furthermore, learning a language requires a significant expenditure of time, effort, and money. In reality, the most effective language learners devote years to mastering their target language. While everyone's language learning path is unique, they always begin with a decision. So, how do you decide which language to study?
Here's how to figure out which language to study in general:
Determine your "why." There are many good reasons to learn a language, like learning your family's language, wanting to connect with different cultures, wishing to travel, and so on. Based on your "why," make a list of languages to learn.
Prioritize based on how difficult the language is to learn and how much time and money you'll need to get to the desired level.
This blog will not provide you with a definitive answer to that question, but it will assist you in determining the answer by considering the following factors:
Usage
When acquiring a second or third language, the most important aspect to consider is usefulness.
One of the main reasons why individuals choose to learn a language is that it will be useful to them. The amount of speakers, where the language is spoken, adaptability, and your specific professional aspirations are all factors to consider while choosing a language.
Language and cultural abilities are essential for worldwide success in today's world. When you study a language online, you may immerse yourself in different cultures and meet people from all over the world.
Cultural Preferences
Some people wish to learn new languages because they are influenced by various cultures in their daily lives. You want to learn more about Japanese if you like anime. You want to learn more about Korean if you enjoy watching Korean dramas. If you enjoy visiting European countries, you may wish to learn more about German or French.
Cultural inclinations may influence your willingness to learn a new language. Learning their language is one of the most important things to consider if you like their culture and want to have a deeper knowledge of their traditions.
Consider these considerations while deciding on a language to learn. Studying a language is difficult, so why spend your time learning something that isn't connected to your heart?
Finding Your Why: Deciding What Language To Learn
It's crucial to figure out why you're studying a language. By determining the "why," you may significantly reduce the size of your list. This is a question that only you have the ability to answer. You must choose which language you should – no, which language you want to study. Why?
People frequently question which languages are the most "useful" to learn. Obviously, the languages that best fulfill your needs are the most beneficial. So "useful" may signify a variety of things, such as traveling to another country, ordering meals in a restaurant in your own country, or simply reading books. To be more explicit, we talk about "motivation" more often.
Is it possible to have fun while learning? Do you want to visit every country on the planet? Make lasting relationships while immersing yourself in interesting cultures? Do you want to live and work in another country? Boost your self-esteem, mental agility, and overall health? Do you want to know how to order your favourite sushi in Japanese? Isn't it just because it sounds lovely? Is there anything else?
You have to ask yourself why you want to learn a language in the first place. Would you like to be able to read literature written in that language? Attend Italian Operas? Do you want to embrace your German roots?
There are, however, several additional reasons to learn a language. You may want to learn a language to communicate with your family, to connect with more people throughout the world, or just to impress others (for example, on your résumé).
You'll be able to earn more money. If you know a second language, you may earn a lot of money. Adding a second language to your skill set can result in a 2 percent income boost on average. There will be more job opportunities for you. Globalization is accelerating. It will help you stand out on your applications if you are fluent in many languages, especially if they are in-demand languages.
If you're learning a language to communicate with your loved ones, that's the language you'll study. How we learn will be influenced by your drive.
There are several advantages to learning a language. So, consider why you want to learn a specific language. The purpose (or reasons) for learning a language (e.g., ‘what do I want to use this language for?') will influence the language you select. Additionally, it will keep you energized and engaged while you are studying it.
Are you certain you want to learn a new language? This is a social endeavour, not an academic one. Spending all of your time studying books or taking classes may help a bit, but you won't get very far unless you're ready to make errors in front of others.
If you simply want to "know" a language, a lot of reading and listening may be all you need. Many individuals like the academic aspect of it, which is fantastic, but it's always best to be clear about your objectives from the start!
If the prospect of speaking “a” foreign language is all that interests you, you must consider how much time you will need to devote to the endeavour. Learning a language for the sake of learning it is a pipe dream – winging it won't get you anywhere — you may spend years learning a language and go nowhere, or you can spend only a few months learning it and speaking it fluently if you are enthusiastic about it.
Every goal has a reason. This is what motivates you to study a foreign language. You should consider why you wish to learn a certain language. Is it just because you want to decipher the lyrics and subtitles of your favourite music or movie? Is it because you want to talk to people when you're on the road? Is it a necessity for you to take it as a student for your academic subject? Is it because it's necessary for the job you've applied for?
Remember that knowledge does not simply translate into fluency. Understanding, writing, and speaking are all distinct abilities. Learning through books or online tools may suffice if you only want to use it for fun, but if you want to use it professionally, you need to make a concerted effort to learn it effectively. Knowing why you want to learn will provide you with a clear answer as to which language you should study.
The success of your language study depends on your personal drive. Staying motivated is the most important factor in determining whether or not you will succeed in learning a language. It’s also the most important factor in determining whether or not you will fail. The importance of motivation at every stage of the learning process, whether you're learning a new language or improving your fluency in one you already know, cannot be overstated.
That is why, whether for personal or professional reasons, it’s strongly suggested that you study a language that you are passionate about learning. Now is the time to brainstorm. You have endless options! But what if you don't know which language to study? I've given you an outline of various languages that will entice you to learn them.
Your Motivation: To Make Connections With People In Countries And Regions We Wish To Visit, As Well As With Our Families
For example, there are two major reasons to study a language:
To make connections with cultures that are foreign to us.
To be more connected to our families.
For starters, this entails traveling to Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America, the countries of the Former Soviet Union, and Eastern Europe. A further issue is whether or not we'll need the language to communicate with the locals. This varies a lot.
There are several main languages spoken in Africa, as well as lingua franca languages such as Swahili, English, and French. You would need to study a spoken dialect of Arabic rather than Standard Arabic in the Middle East.
It's simple: utilizing this structure, choose the location you're least familiar with and learn the language there. If you have a few options, go with the easiest one. If you just want to connect with Chinese culture, study Chinese!
Prioritize Based On How “Easy” The Language Is To Learn
Chinese? Isn't that difficult? Yes! They're all difficult! There's no such thing as "easy" languages. There are a few that won't drive you insane as much. They're also difficult in a variety of ways. It also depends on your first language.
RELATED: The Top 25 Hardest Languages To Learn For English Speakers.
Every language is easy in some ways because it can be spoken by a child. They are only as difficult as we make them for ourselves. We can be our own worst enemies by creating roadblocks, such as clinging to failures.
Knowing what you're up against, on the other hand, may help you choose how much work to put in and what to expect from the learning process. This analysis is based on the assumption that you are an English speaker who wants to study in English.
Some other languages you may or may not be familiar with. I'm also going to think about the languages that people learn - for example, the ones that are most commonly spoken throughout the world and have a few phrasebook selections on Amazon.
There are four major ways that a language might be easy (or hard):
1. How Easy Is The Vocabulary Of The Language?
Take French or Spanish, for example. Even if you don't speak Spanish, you can figure out what's going on in any newspaper.
The same may be said about French and other languages that have a common alphabet and a large number of similar words. It's a slightly different story on the front page of China Daily. You're now looking at the photographs.
2. How Easy Is It To Pronounce The Language?
There is no language that is truly easy to pronounce (including English for non-native speakers). Some, though, become far more difficult.
Chinese, Vietnamese and Thai all have tones. Other languages like Arabic, German, Hebrew, Dutch, Spanish, and French have letters that are difficult to pronounce.
Languages with fewer sounds than English are the easiest to learn. These languages are typically standardized and follow rules. If you can read the words, Korean and Japanese are fairly easy to speak, but you will need to get used to some unusually spoken letters.
Cantonese is the most difficult language to pronounce. Vietnamese has a more complex grammatical structure, although it does have a standardized Roman writing system (and a smaller population of speakers).
3. How Easy Is The Alphabet In This Language?
It's best if it's an alphabet you're familiar with (French, Spanish, or even Vietnamese!), but even if it isn't, it's better if it's an alphabet at all.
The writing system in Korean is extremely standard. Although Arabic and Farsi have alphabets, they write right to left and do not use short vowels, which confuses many people.
Indian languages, of which there are many, with numerous scripts, sit somewhere in the centre, at the ‘somewhat complicated' level. Syllabic scripts are used in most languages, which means that each major letter represents a consonant with an attached vowel (or occasionally simply a single vowel/consonant).
The most difficult scripts are those that use Hanzi (in Mandarin Chinese)/Kanji (in Japanese), which encompasses all Chinese and Japanese languages (which share a similar script and written form but not a common vocal expression). Although it is possible to learn to read and write Japanese by memorizing the simpler alphabets, you will not be able to fully engage in society. Kanji is unnecessary for the casual tourist.
4. How Difficult Is The Grammar Of The Language?
By itself, grammar may make a language difficult to understand. It's difficult to use proper grammar when there are:
Conjugations, such as how you speak about the past, future, completed actions, events that may or may not occur, and so on. This is very difficult in Spanish and Italian, and moderately difficult in French and other languages, albeit most have less. There are several in written Arabic, but only two in spoken Arabic. It's easy in English, but not so much in Chinese or Bahasa Indonesia.
Cases in German, Russian, and Arabic, to name a few. In general, the form of a word changes based on its function in a sentence.
Genders (two in Latin and Arabic, or three in German, Russian, and a few other Indian languages), or a staggering eighteen noun classes in Swahili.
Persons, such as in English (I eat, she eats... it's quite easy), all romance languages, except Chinese or Bahasa Indonesia.
There are a few exceptions – it appears that German and English are all exceptions.
Extra (common) grammatical constructs that appear strange at first but that you must learn.
Grammar is rarely easy, but knowing what's coming up is helpful.
What Makes A Language Useful To Learn?
Career Opportunities - Consider your present or prospective line of work, as well as the location of your job. Spanish is a highly helpful language to learn if you work in the United States. Learn languages that will be beneficial in your career if you expect your industry or job to do a lot of foreign commerce. Chinese, Japanese, Italian, or German are all possibilities.
Number of Speakers - Unsurprisingly, knowing the number of native speakers of a language is critical before committing to learning it. The majority of individuals choose to study languages that are spoken by the greatest number of people. You should also take into account the number of individuals who speak the language as a second language. With this knowledge, you will be able to communicate with people all around the world.
Geographical Area - Here's where your objectives and passions come into play. Do you intend to stay in one place for an extended period of time? If that's the case, find out what languages are spoken there. If you wish to study a language that is widely spoken all over the world, English, French, or Spanish, which are spoken on all continents, are good choices.
Versatility and Usability - You should consider flexibility while picking a language. Specifically, are you able to communicate in this language both at home and abroad? What about in both professional and social settings? "How much will I utilize this language?" you might wonder. Learning a language takes time and effort, and you'll want to learn the one that will be most useful to you!
Learning A Language For Travel
Why Learn A Language For Travel?
One of the most common reasons for studying a foreign language is to be able to travel. What are the best languages to learn if you're a traveler? When it comes to deciding which foreign language to study, traveling is an excellent method to limit your options. Have you fallen in love with a certain location? Then you may start learning the language!
If you have a certain travel destination in mind, study the language of that location. Learn French, for example, if you want to travel to France, or Thai if you want to travel to Thailand.
But what if you want to tour the entire world? To begin with, English is an excellent all-around travel language. Most areas with a tourist sector have a basic level of English, which may be sufficient for many international vacation destinations.
If you intend to travel to an area rather than a specific country, study a regional language. The most helpful languages in North and South America, for example, would be English or Spanish. In former Soviet countries, Russian would be quite beneficial. In Africa, French is helpful, whereas in East Asia, Chinese is helpful.
But what if you don't know where you want to go? Because of their near-ubiquity, English and Spanish remain the ideal languages for travel. Nonetheless, there are a few more things we can add to our arsenal.
If you want to travel for a short period of time, say a couple of weeks, it's a good idea to have a "survival level" of the language. This implies you'll utilize this level of language to place food orders, arrange transportation, and seek assistance in an emergency. In virtually all spoken languages, there are several travel phrasebooks, brief textbooks, and YouTube lessons for achieving a "survival level."
If you intend to travel long-term, that is, for more than a month, learning the language above the "survival level" will be useful. This level may be decided by what you want to do while traveling: if you plan to work or study while traveling, you'll need a greater degree of fluency than if you're just vacationing.
Increasing your proficiency in your target language will help you to connect more deeply with a location, its culture, and its people. You could even meet some interesting people! To help you study quicker, I recommend taking an in-depth online or offline course and finding a language partner before you go on your trip.
Get a free trial of the Pimsleur method and you’ll see how to learn any language in just 30 minutes a day. Pimsleur offers over 50 languages you can learn starting today!
The Best Languages For Travelers To Learn
Consider studying one of the most useful languages for traveling if you want to learn a language that will help you explore the world. They include some of the most widely spoken languages around the globe:
North America, Central America and the Caribbean: English, Spanish and French
South America: Spanish and Portuguese
Europe: French, German, Italian, Polish, Spanish and English
Africa: Arabic, Amharic, French, Hausa, Swahili and Yoruba
Asia: Arabic, Hindi, Japanese, Javanese, Mandarin Chinese, Russian, Thai and English
Oceania: English, Malay and Tagalog
Learning A Language For Work Opportunities
Which Language Is Good For a Career?
What are the best languages for business? The answer is that it depends. A good language for work is one that is widely spoken or one that is spoken in the location where you wish to work.
Because many multinational firms work beyond country borders, English is a good all-around business language. You might also study one of the official UN languages, which come from the world's most powerful economies. Other important business languages include Spanish in North and South America, German in Europe, French in Europe and Africa, and Chinese in East Asia and across the world.
Many people also have professions that need them to speak a second language or are interested in learning the most relevant languages for healthcare. English is frequently one of the main languages in these situations, but depending on where you plan to practice medicine, French and Spanish may be extremely beneficial.
There are also individuals that teach English in foreign countries. Knowing a little of the local language is helpful in these situations. Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Thai are frequently used.
Furthermore, language majors can find work in a variety of fields, including teaching and translation. In an area where there is a demand, you can teach almost any language. English, as well as other important languages such as Chinese, Russian, French, German, or Spanish, is frequently the most beneficial language to learn for translation.
It's no surprise that many language learners want to improve their job chances by learning a foreign language or two. Employers respect the effort and intelligence necessary to study a language, as well as the potential to put such abilities to good use. If you're interested in learning a language, here are a few options to explore.
Arabic
When you visit Morocco, you will hear Arabic, one of the most intriguing languages in the world, in addition to French. Of course, Arabic isn't only spoken in Marrakech; it's the official language of 27 countries. With the Middle East becoming a more significant region in terms of politics and economy, being able to communicate in Arabic will impress future employers.
Arabic has several challenges, not the least of which being its drastically different vocabulary from that of European languages, as well as its beautiful but unique script, which is written from right to left. The spectrum of dialects, on the other hand, may pose the greatest challenge. When a language spans such a large territory, it's only natural that there will be a lot of diversity in how it's spoken!
There are three types to choose from:
Egyptian Arabic - Egyptian Arabic is the language spoken in Egypt. This is the Egyptian dialect, as the name implies, and it is spoken by 52.5 million people in Egypt. Because of Egypt's cultural influence, this form is recognized throughout the Arab world.
Gulf Arabic - This dialect, which includes ten personal pronouns, is mostly spoken in Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Gulf Arabic retains gender distinction, although other languages have abandoned it.
Levantine Arabic - This language is spoken in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Palestine, and it has a global population of 20 million speakers. It is the national working language of Lebanon, despite its lack of official status, and is spoken at home and among friends, as well as in written communication, the media, and government. Hebrew, Greek, French, and other other languages have influenced Levantine Arabic.
All of these are in addition to Modern Standard Arabic, which is the official language in the majority of these countries! Which should you learn first? I recommend studying Levantine Arabic first; the rest will come naturally after that.
French
French is a powerful language in both Europe and North America, with Quebec and the EU as examples. It is also a standard in language education. Not to mention all of Africa's and the world's Francophone regions.
It's also fair to argue that, unlike native speakers of other Romance languages, French speakers are generally hesitant to engage in English conversations (or at least that's the perception, which is debatable).
French, like Spanish, is a member of the European language family, and your high school Spanish classes will come in handy when it comes to grammar and vocabulary! You've probably heard French in public as well, not to mention the loanwords and phrases we've adopted. Enjoy being able to explain the meanings of all those fancy terms on the menu to all your friends!
Pronunciation may be a significant challenge for you. While the phonology of French is largely consistent, there are various vowel combinations, many of which include silent consonants. It may be difficult to distinguish between words as a result of this.
Business
Consider studying one of the most useful business languages if you want to get a leg up in the business world and assist your future career. They are as follows:
Arabic
French
German
Japanese
Mandarin Chinese
Portuguese
Russian
Spanish
Learning A Language In Preparation For Immigration Or Foreign Studies
In today's fast-paced world, studying in a foreign nation or migrating to a different country entirely isn't as unusual as it once was.
When relocating to another country, learning the local language is usually a good idea. Furthermore, you may be asked, "What language should I take in college?" with the possibility of studying that language on location afterwards.
If you have a certain destination in mind, you should investigate the language spoken there and gain at least a basic understanding of it. While a "survival level" of that language may suffice, if you intend on immigrating or studying in a foreign country, I recommend having a higher level of that language.
Furthermore, others argue that English is the greatest foreign language to learn. Even if you don’t study the language of the destination, knowing some English is usually beneficial.
In reality, English is the official language of many countries. Even countries where English is not the official language use it as a working language or as the language of academic institutions like academies and universities.
French, German, Italian, Russian, Chinese, and Japanese are other helpful languages in popular immigration and study destinations. These languages are spoken in their own nations as well as in neighbouring countries.
Learning Additional Languages: Building On What You Know
Many of the people who read this blog aren't native English speakers or monolingual English speakers. That is to say, you may speak a language other than English, and English may not even be your first language. That's great news!
In reality, you should put what you already know to good use in order to learn another language. This might entail looking for languages that are comparable to the other language or languages you already know. In other words, following Spanish, you should learn French, Italian, or Portuguese because you'll be learning romantic languages. Additionally, if you know Russian, try Serbian or Croatian; if you know Arabic, try Hebrew.
After that, you could choose to re-learn a language you previously studied. Perhaps you learned a language at school or as a youngster. The path to remembering a language you forgot isn't as difficult as you would imagine since bits and pieces of that language are miraculously still there in your brain!
When studying many languages at the same time, it's very helpful to build on what you already know. This is because leveraging what you've previously mastered to propel you ahead in a language saves time and energy.
Choosing mutually intelligible languages is a clever method for learning many languages. Languages that are mutually intelligible are ones that are sufficiently similar that you can comprehend one by learning the other.
For example, if you study Norwegian, you will also be able to understand Danish and Swedish. If you study Serbian, you will be able to understand Croatian, as well as some Montenegrin and Bosnian.
What Is The Easiest Language To Learn For English Speakers?
Why Learn An Easy Language?
We all know that in the age of the internet, we like quick gratification. Why not select instant gratification when learning a new language?
In fact, many individuals select an "easy language" to learn because they believe they will see results quickly: learners want to make rapid progress in a language, therefore an easy language is a desirable choice.
Furthermore, many language learners may select an easy language in order to maximize their limited study time. Do you have a hectic schedule that includes school, job, family, and social activities? With just a few hours each week, you might be able to make significant progress in a simple language.
Because English borrows a lot from other languages, if you're a native English speaker, you have a number of “easy language” alternatives.
If You Want Something “Easy” For English Speakers
So, we all know that learning a foreign language isn't easy. However, seeing rapid progress may be extremely encouraging, especially if this is your first time learning a foreign language.
If you're looking for an easy language to learn, you'll have more options than you could ever imagine. In fact, deciding which language is the easiest to learn is totally dependent on your prior language knowledge.
You have no prior language experience? You, of course, do! Everyone has a native language that they began learning at a young age.
For English speakers, the easiest second language is one from the same language family as English. That is, another Germanic language, such as Dutch, Afrikaans, German, or the Scandinavian languages, is an "easy language" choice for you.
This is due to the fact that these languages are linguistically similar to English and share many lexical and grammatical characteristics. Because they have so much in common with English, this can make learning easier.
Other languages may appear to be "easy" because English has borrowed much of their vocabulary. This covers languages such as French, Italian, and Spanish, for example. Many terms in English have been taken from various languages, making them practically similar. This is a simple technique for English speakers to quickly acquire a large number of words in a foreign language.
The important thing is to choose something that is not too distinct from your native language. If English is your first language, below are some examples.
Languages Closely Related To English
Afrikaans, Catalan, Danish, Dutch, French, Haitian Creole, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish, Swahili, Swedish
Minimum length of training for proficiency: 23-24 Weeks (575-600 Hours)
Languages Similar To English
German
Minimum length of training for proficiency: 30 Weeks (750 Hours)
Learning A Difficult Language
Why Learn A Difficult Language?
Remember the concept of immediate gratification? Perhaps delayed pleasure is more your thing. Some language learners select a difficult language because they want a challenge. In reality, selecting a difficult language may be highly rewarding, even if the road is lengthy (and hard).
There are various definitions of what makes a language difficult to learn, but the most difficult languages to learn are usually those that are not your native tongue.
Languages that are linguistically "far removed" from English and the Germanic language family, for example, are "harder" if English is your native language. Languages like Arabic, Hebrew, and Hungarian, which aren't Indo-European at all, are examples of this.
Furthermore, highly inflected languages have a lot of grammar to learn. There are a lot of verb endings to remember, as well as a lot of noun case modifications. This is also difficult since English grammar is quite easy. Languages such as Russian and Finnish fall within this group.
Aside from grammar, the writing systems or tonal systems of certain languages make them complex and challenging. Tonal languages, such as Vietnamese, Mandarin Chinese, and Cantonese, are among the most difficult for English speakers to master.
The writing systems of Mandarin Chinese and Cantonese are extremely intricate, lengthening the time it takes to learn a language. Thai and Japanese are two other languages with difficult writing systems.
Despite the fact that development is gradual and these languages are difficult, they are frequently the most rewarding. That is to say, nothing surpasses the sense of having a wonderful discussion in the language, despite the numerous grammatical declensions, irregular verbs, and complicated writing systems.
Keep in mind, though, that when learning a difficult language, it's critical not to become discouraged: keep the incentives consistent, the motivation strong, and don't allow mistakes to bother you. It will take some time!
Every Language Learner Is Different
Before I go into further depth about the most difficult languages, what makes them challenging, and why you should try them, it's critical to note that every language learner is different.
The FSI study, although fascinating, took place under perfect language learning settings, with individuals devoting an astonishing amount of time to learning a foreign language. Most of us don't have that much free time to devote to language study, and we can only devote two or three hours a week at most.
While this does imply that we will take longer to learn the language, other aspects such as how we practice, our language learning background, and our attitude and motivation all play a significant part in deciding whether or not a language is difficult for us.
It's critical to remember that language difficulty is relative, and what takes one student three weeks to master might take another learner only a few days.
Languages With Linguistic and/or Cultural From English
Indonesian, Malaysian, Swahili
Minimum length of training for proficiency: 36 Weeks (900 Hours)
Exceptionally Difficult Languages For Native English Speakers
Arabic, Cantonese, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, Korean
Minimum length of training for proficiency: 88 Weeks (2,200 Hours)
Learning A Widely Spoken Language
Why Learn A Commonly Spoken Language?
If you want to know whether a language is easy or difficult, you can study one of the most popular languages spoken by a large number of people.
Learning a common language has obvious advantages: it may be used as a "lingua franca" for travel, study, or job. This implies that people who speak various languages can converse with one another using this common "lingua franca." You may take advantage of this by learning a common language.
In fact, because common languages are the most widely spoken languages on the planet, they can provide you with more options for employment, education, and relationships.
Most Common Languages To Learn
There are two types of languages in use today. We have the most spoken languages by native speakers in the first category (as in, the most people who speak the language from birth). Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, English, Hindi, and Bengali are the most commonly spoken languages among native speakers.
We have the most spoken languages by total number of speakers in the second category. Because they include those who speak the language from birth as well as those who learned it later, they are usually the most researched and fastest developing languages. English, Mandarin Chinese, Hindi, Spanish, and French are the most widely spoken languages in terms of total number of speakers.
The language you choose may also be influenced by where you wish to live, work, or travel. Even though Chinese is the most widely spoken language in terms of native speakers, it will not get you very far in Sub-Saharan Africa or many regions of North America and Europe.
As a result, here are some regional suggestions:
You should learn English and/or Spanish if you want to communicate in the United States.
English, along with French and German, is one of the most commonly spoken languages in Europe. Try Russian or study Slavic languages if you're in Eastern Europe.
French and English are the most widely spoken languages in Africa.
You might even study a language from Asia. Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, and Korean are the finest in East Asia. Hindi would be the most beneficial in South Asia (India). Arabic is the most widely spoken language in the Middle East.
Most Common Languages To Learn And Speak
Consider studying one of the world's most widely spoken languages if you want to converse with friends or local immigrants. These are some of them:
Arabic
English
French
Hindi
Mandarin Chinese
Portuguese
Spanish
Learning An Obscure Language
Learning an endangered language, or one with few speakers and a high risk of extinction, can be done for a variety of reasons.
To start, a person may wish to study endangered languages in order to reconnect with their ancestors. If you have Samoan heritage, for example, you might wish to learn the language. North Americans who desire to study Scottish Gaelic or Irish since their ancestors came from Scotland or Ireland are another example.
Furthermore, if you live in North America or another colonial portion of the world, you might desire to study a specific sort of endangered language: your region's indigenous language. An "indigenous language" is one that was spoken in a location before it was colonized by a new set of people.
Learners in the United States, for example, could try studying Navajo or Hawaiian to have a better understanding of the colonial territory they live on.
Keep in mind that endangered and obscure languages may be difficult to learn due to a lack of resources. I propose joining an online community of like-minded people. This is a fantastic tool for creating a study plan and finding materials!
Less Commonly Spoken Languages To Learn
Basque
Gaelic
Hawaiian
Navajo
Ojibwe
Samoan
Languages that differ significantly from English in terms of linguistics and/or culture
Amharic, Bengali, Burmese, Croatian, Czech, Finnish, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Latvian, Lithuanian, Mongolian, Nepali, Pashto, Persian (Dari, Farsi, Tajik), Pilipino, Polish, Russian, Serbian, Slovak, Slovenian, Thai, Tamil, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu, Vietnamese
Minimum length of training for proficiency: 44 Weeks (1,100 Hours)
If You Want To Learn A New Script
Have you grown tired of the Latin alphabet? Many of the languages discussed thus far utilize different scripts, but if you truly want to immerse yourself in a beautiful, difficult, and distinctive new writing system, try one of them.
Hindi
Japanese
Literature
If you want to read books that haven't been translated into English or holy writings in their original language, studying a dead language could be the way to go. The following are some of the most useful dead languages:
Latin
Ancient Greek
Biblical Hebrew
Sanskrit
Old and Middle English
If You Want To Stand Out From The Crowd
Norwegian
Scandinavians are known for their excellent English skills, which may explain why so few people are interested in learning the languages spoken there.
There is, however, a secret benefit to learning Norwegian: you get three languages for the price of one! It's quite close to Swedish and Danish, and the three are frequently thought to be interchangeable.
What are the benefits of studying Norwegian? Well for one, the language's distinct and beautiful sound. Furthermore, despite its hipster credentials, it isn't completely different from English. Furthermore, you will be admired by Norwegians for your desire to master their language.
Although Swedish and Danish are also wonderful languages to learn, Norwegian is a little more unique because it is less often taught.
What's Next Once You've Figured Out Which Language(s) To Learn?
What will you do now that you know the best languages to learn, the languages you should study, the most helpful languages, and the easiest languages to learn for English speakers? Learning a new language broadens your horizons and allows you to have a better knowledge of various cultures. Start studying languages now that you know the best languages to learn!
Are You Up For A Challenge?
Let's be honest: learning a new language is difficult at times. Language acquisition is a time-consuming, challenging, and often unpleasant process that includes everything from vocabulary to pronunciation to all those tough verbs. However, not all languages are equally difficult to learn, which is good news for language learners.
A language is easier to learn when it is linguistically comparable to your home language, and more difficult when it is significantly dissimilar. So, what does this mean for English speakers who are native speakers?
Some languages are easier (or more difficult) to learn for English speakers than others. As we've seen, there are five main language groups depending on how close a language is to English. Their characteristics influence how long it takes to achieve professional proficiency and, more importantly, how easy or difficult it is to learn them.
Is There Anything Else I Should Keep In Mind When Choosing A Language?
When selecting a language to study, there are two final, crucial considerations to keep in mind. First and foremost, it is essential to select a language that may help you enhance your life. You will be more driven to study a language if it will help you improve your life. The easier, more enjoyable, and faster you learn a language, the more driven you are to study it. Select a language that will allow you to achieve personal fulfilment.
Finally, be aware of the resources that are accessible to you. Because of the tools accessible in your area, city, country, or online, certain languages are easier to learn than others. Studying a language using readily available materials may help you save time and money while also increasing the range, interactivity, and practicality of your studies. When deciding on a language, keep this in mind.
While learning a language might be difficult at times, deciding which language to study should not be. You'll be on the right track to language learning success if you utilize these practical, easy-to-follow guidelines as your own language selection guide.
Get Started With Pimsleur!
Why not take your game to the next level? Pimsleur is a great place to start learning languages. You will have a more meaningful and convenient language learning experience as a result of this. Nothing is impossible with the right tool and determination.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s The Most Commonly Spoken Language Today?
With 870 million native speakers, Mandarin Chinese is the most widely spoken native language in the world. The great majority of Mandarin speakers are native and live on mainland China, with less than 200 million second language speakers. Arabic is also often studied as a second language. It's easy to see why, given that Arabic is the official language of 59 nations.
Which Language Is Most In Demand?
Portuguese! This is due to Brazil's fast expanding economy. Brazil's native language is Portuguese, which was brought to the country by Portuguese conquerors. The tourist sector in Brazil is flourishing, and many firms are establishing offices there, making Portuguese a new in-demand language.
On The Internet, What Are The Most Useful Languages?
If you want to be able to watch shows and programs in your foreign language without having to rely on subtitles, learning one of these popular online languages should be your goal. Among them are the following:
Arabic
Chinese
French
German
Japanese
Portuguese
Russian
Spanish
Quiz: Which Language Should I Learn?
These are just a handful of the languages you can learn. Whether you're studying Japanese for fun, Spanish for work, or Italian because you're in love with an Italian, you'll have a great time. If you're still undecided, take my free quiz to narrow your options.
Conclusion
So there you have it. Chances are, if you’re reading this post, you already know what language you’d like to learn. But who knows, maybe you don’t want to put all your eggs in one basket. Maybe you’re thinking of adding a third or fourth language to your skillset. Which one will you choose?
Once you decide on a language, what comes next is the most exciting: learning! One of the best ways to learn from home is 30-minute audio lessons, and Pimsleur is a program just for that. The good news is that with Pimsleur, you don’t have to focus on just one language. You can learn as many languages at your own pace – it’s the best way to put all the linguistic odds in your favour.
Let’s quickly recap the highlights and tips:
You learned that learning Norwegian will make you stand out from the crowd, and that a secret benefit to learning Norwegian is that you get three languages for the price of one, meaning that it’s quite close to Swedish and Danish, making it easier to learn and pick up any one of these languages as they are frequently thought to be interchangeable.
You found out that making connections with cultures that are foreign to us and being more connected to our families is a great way to stay motivated learning a language.
You discovered how Pimsleur makes it easier than ever to get started learning your chosen language in just 30 minutes a day.
As you can see, there are a lot of reasons that go into the decision making process as to what language you’ll choose to learn. However, it doesn’t need to be difficult. That’s why I’ve given you several different reasons and many languages that go with those reasons to make it easier than ever in order to choose a language of your choice for your future.
Bottom line: you now know exactly how to pick a foreign language to learn. So, your next step is easy - take action on what you just learned. Because the sooner you do, the sooner you’ll start reaching fluency while enjoying learning a new language!
So, go ahead and take my free quiz so that you can get started today - you’ll be glad you did!
A TINY REQUEST: IF YOU LIKED THIS POST, PLEASE SHARE THIS?
Ready to have some fun learning a new language? Then take action on what you just learned - you’ll be glad you did! Be a good friend and share this post on social media.
Also, share this post with anyone you know who’s looking to learn a foreign language! Just think how good you’ll feel when your friends thank you for bringing them insight and some surprising discoveries about language learning!
I know most people don’t share because they feel that us bloggers don’t need their “tiny” social share. But here’s the truth…
I built this blog piece by piece, one small share at a time, and will continue to do so. So thank you so much for your support, my reader.
A share from you would seriously help a lot with the growth of this blog.
Some great suggestions:
Pin it! (I even made a pretty pin for ya!)
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It won’t take more than 10 seconds of your time. The share buttons are right here.:)
Thank you so much!
Question:
So, here’s the question: Which language did you get on the quiz? Do you think it’s the right language for you? Or, if you’re already learning a language, how did you choose it?
P.S. I want to hear from you today. No for real, get out from behind that keyboard and tell us more about yourself! Use the comment section down below and introduce yourself.
Hey, I’m Mara.
I am the founder and blogger of Sololingual helping anyone at any age, from any place, who wants to learn a new language. You can learn how to reach fluency in your chosen language fast, fun and easily studying a short amount each day and spending very little money using different language learning techniques, programs and resources at your disposal. Fluency isn't difficult to achieve. In fact, it’s easy when you find a solid method that walks you through every step of the way, and believing in yourself so that you can achieve your goal at becoming fluent in any language.
