Best Foreign Languages To Learn After English
Speaking a second language nowadays is not a special skill. In most countries, people learn a foreign language at school and many bilingual families take advantage of their national heritage and speak both parents’ languages in the family. For non-English speakers, the English language is a must-have skill nowadays and many are asking a question: what is the best language to learn after English?
English is the lingua franca in trade and commerce and is the most important language to speak for traveling, career opportunities, and professional development in any industry. According to the World Economic Forum, English is spoken only by 20% of the world’s population, which is about 1.5 billion people. Amongst them, less than 400 million use it as a first language. That means over 1 billion speak English as a secondary language. English speakers are in demand in commerce roles in many countries. Numerous roles are also available in nearly all major tourist locations for bi-lingual people fluent in English. But being bi-lingual is not enough to be competitive in a future job market. Let’s look at the best foreign languages to learn after English.
First of all it is worth understanding your intrinsic motivation for language learning. The reasons for a new language can be different and it is not the purpose of this article to look at all of them. Let’s consider what is the best language to learn for business, career opportunities and professional development.
The best languages to learn for international business: Spanish and Mandarin
The trending languages in the business in the US are Spanish, Chinese Mandarin and French.
According to Study International, California has the highest percentage of jobs requiring a second language, with Spanish being the most sought-after language. New York comes second, with Chinese as the top language wanted by employers. Florida places third, with Spanish being the most in-demand second language.
Many researches and studies conducted in the US lately have shown a strong demand for U.S. workers who speak foreign languages—especially Spanish and Chinese. This tendency should continue to grow over the next decade.
Mandarin: the most common first language on the planet
China is a major global power and in recent years it has become increasingly outward-looking. More and more companies from around the world are trading with Chinese businesses. And there is a long history of jobs for English-speaking people in tourism and education in China, making it one of the most useful languages to learn after English.
Mandarin is the most common first language on the planet with 900 million native speakers. 75% of the population of China speak Mandarin. And China is the most populated country in the world and the second biggest economy.
Also, Chinese is among six official languages of the United Nations. More than 70 countries teach Chinese in their national education systems, including the United Kingdom, Russia, South Africa, South Korea and Australia.
Despite the massive potential for people who speak Mandarin as a second language, it is only the seventh most studied language in the US. So, by adding Mandarin to your CV, you can make yourself a very appealing commodity to thousands of companies and businesses around the world.
Spanish: for careers in the Americas
Spanish is the fourth most spoken language in the world and one of the best and easiest languages to learn for jobs in Europe. It is one of the best languages to learn if you want to live and work in the USA or Latin America.
Spanish is one of the easiest languages for native English speakers to learn. There are always plenty of jobs for people who speak English and Spanish due to Spain’s popularity as a tourist destination for the English.
Learning Spanish as a second language won’t make you stand out in the same way as Mandarin. But it is a quicker route to finding a job overseas. Same as with the Russians, the Spanyards are not very good at languages and it is crucial to be able to speak and understand at least B2 level of the Spanish language in order to communicate with the Spanish speaking colleagues, partners and clients.
How many words are there in the Spanish language.
The best way to learn Spanish.
German: the language of science
Germany is a European powerhouse and the biggest economy on the continent. It is a giant in trade, commerce and technology. In the US, German has the highest median salary for jobs that require fluency in a foreign language. Germany’s influence on the world stage is growing following the UKs exit from the EU. This can only increase the career prospects for anybody who speaks German as a second language. German is the most useful languages to learn for a good job in Europe (specifically in Germany, Austria and Switzerland).
German is the second most common language in scientific industries. And Germany is the third largest contributor to R&D in science. German companies regularly offer research fellowships to overseas scientists. The ability to speak and understand the language can help you get an edge in a very competitive field.
French: the language of the future
French is the official language of the UN, NATO and the Olympic Committee. It is widely spoken in Europe and in many rapidly emerging African nations. French is one of the easiest languages for native English speakers to learn. This is particularly true in England where all students learn French between the ages of 9 and 14.
Currently ranked as the second most useful language in the world for business, French is described as the language of the future. Data shows French is the fastest growing language in the world in terms of the number of speakers. Indeed, the majority of French speakers are not French. Experts predict that by 2050, French will eclipse Mandarin as the most spoken language in the world.
Learning French will put you in a position of strength as more and more roles globally demand fluency in French.
Arabic: the language for development and diplomacy
Arabic is an official language of the UN and is crucial in the world of diplomacy. Despite this, there are relatively few Arab speakers outside of countries where it is a native tongue. For this reason, bi-lingual Arabic speakers are in high demand. And that demand is centered in one of the richest and fastest developing regions on the planet.
Places like Dubai have become key areas for tourism and business in recent years. And significant investment is being ploughed into the Emirates. Translating, interpreting, engineering and tourism are set to boom in the area in the coming decades. Learning Arabic now will put you in a strong position to land one of the coveted roles in the area.
Learn Arabic: The UN’s official language
Greater connectivity between people and businesses from around the world brings fresh opportunities but also increased competition. It is clear that many jobs in the future will favor applicants who are multi-lingual. And that means now is the time to start learning a new language, even if you are bi-lingual.
Some more ideas on top 5 easiest languages to learn for English speakers:
An African language (Afrikaans)
A Romance language (Italian)
An Asian language (Indonesian)
A Germanic language (Dutch)
A Scandinavian language (Norwegian)