If you’re interested in learning another language, prepare to open Pandora’s Box in the process! Not only will you get a better feel for a country’s culture and people by learning a new language, but you’ll also open yourself up to more opportunities in being bilingual. Whether you’re trying to learn a second, third, or fourth language, you’ll definitely reap the rewards in the process, like a big promotion or an opportunity to travel abroad in the future. Not sure which language to sink your teeth into? Take a look at our suggestions below for a better idea.
Mandarin Chinese
Mandarin Chinese is the language with the most native speakers, and it’s probably no coincidence because of Asia’s vast and diverse population. Mandarin Chinese is also the largest of the Chinese “macrolanguages,” a grouping of thirteen languages all considered to be Chinese based on their shared writing system and literature. Although complex, if you choose this language, you’ll be amongst a vast range of speakers around the globe!
Spanish
Second only to Mandarin Chinese, Spanish has 400 million native speakers around the world. Spanish is also the official language of more than twenty countries and is commonly spoken as a first, second, or third language in many more. Today, approximately thirteen percent of the U.S. population speaks Spanish as a first language, and one study predicts that by 2050, the U.S. could have more Spanish speaking residents than any other country. Talk about a useful language to sink your teeth into!
German
The most widely spoken native language on the European continent, the language of German opens doors to academic, economic, and political powerhouses. Despite any warnings you’ve may have heard in the past, German is actually a fairly simple language for English speakers to learn. English, another complex language, is derived from German, and both share the same rigid (and sometimes, unexpected) structure, rules, and exceptions. So, why not do yourself a favor and pick-up some German?
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