Most Popular Languages to Learn and Why

Speaking another language opens the door to many great opportunities. As a multilingual student, imagine how many options you have compared to your peers. Being multilingual or at least bilingual is highly recommended in most jobs right now. Therefore, consider one of the following languages if you intend to study a certain language besides your native language.  

1. English

Why Learn English?

English is the most influential language in the world; it’s used in 94 countries by 350 million native speakers and 1.5 billion non-native speakers. It’s the official language of the US, Britain, and Canada which are all on the list of the world’s biggest student destinations. Additionally, the English language holds the number one spot as the most commonly used language by 50% of the internet and 950 million internet users. English is the mother tongue of computer technology. If you want to thrive in the business world whether, on the local or global levels, you should learn English; it is the language of globalisation and the most useful language to learn today.        

2. Mandarin Chinese

Why Learn Mandarin? 

Mandarin Chinese has 985 million native speakers worldwide, and more than 1 billion people can understand Mandarin Chinese globally. It’s the 2nd most popular language among internet users, and if the Asian market continues to expand, Mandarin could replace English as the most widely used language on the internet. This is due to the gigantic economic shift that China has been undergoing for the past 3 decades. Analysts predict that China will become the world’s leading economy by 2050, making Chinese Mandarin the 2nd most influential and important language in this list.        

3. Spanish

Why Learn Spanish?

Spanish is one of the most widely spoken languages worldwide. With around 350 million native speakers and more than 400 million non-native speakers, it is the primary language in more than 20 countries, most of which are located in Latin America. Additionally, the US has been cited as the 2nd largest Spanish-speaking country in the world, where over 37 million people speak it as their primary language. Therefore, if you intend to study in the USA, then pick up Spanish as your third language after English; it is highly appreciated by employers.

4. French

Why Learn French?

French has been the official language of diplomatic discourse for centuries. Today, there are 7.6 million native speakers, with the number of non-native speakers climbing up globally to 370 million, which proves how influential the language is. It is the official language of 29 countries globally and the 2nd most widely spoken language in the European Union. France is the 6th biggest economy globally, and Paris has been a cultural epicentre for ages. The French-speaking world also includes Africa, a developing area rich with natural resources. The top 5 fastest-growing economies in Africa include the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania, Cote D’Ivoire, and Mozambique. French is the official language in three of them.              

5. Arabic

Why Learn Arabic? 

As the official language of many middle eastern countries where business opportunities are growing rapidly, learning Arabic can be an advantage! The language is spoken by 1.5 billion natives and 295 million non-native speakers worldwide. Arab countries are rich in oil, and they are well-known as a trading hub with some of the best business mindsets worldwide. With many Arabian countries developing quickly, Arabic could become an asset in communication between different countries soon. 

Whether you choose the language you want to speak next because of its influence on the economy, or how many people speak it, or even because of how beneficial it would be for your business life after university, a new door will open with lots of possibilities to be considered, and you will win a lifetime experience!   

Two Mobile Apps for Popular Languages to Learn! 

Now that you know the top languages you should learn. Here are two apps that could help you learn the basics of the previous languages. 

1. Duolingo 

Through gameplay and competition, you now can learn any language you want by earning points and levelling up! With more than 37 languages to be learned, Duolingo is quite the choice if you want to get a heads up on a language you want to learn without investing in a full-paid course! Instead, Duolingo will give you all the basics you need, and you can start investing in a language course afterwards.

Duolingo has both a website and mobile app that you can use to learn any language you want. It has two versions, the free one with ads and the paid one has more features without ads. The app also has a Standardized testing section for the English language to save the hassle of travelling for certification and testing centres. 

2. Rosetta Stone 

Rosetta Stone is more on the professional side; upon signing in, you choose the language you want to learn, the level you are at while signing (beginner-intermediate- Advanced), and why you want to use the application, whether it’s for travelling, work, school, or personal reasons. Rosetta Stone will help you learn the language in a way that caters to your needs. 

Rosetta Stone is less interactive and doesn’t use the gameplay module like Duolingo does, which is a bit more convenient for some people who get overwhelmed by the whole points system. The app has two versions; both are ad-free; the only difference is in their features. Also, it can be used on both mobile and desktop.