I would like to learn a foreign language. Which one would you prefer and why?

Question

Besides English of course :)

Answer 1

Mandarin would be the next most important.

Answer 2

What language to learn - uhmmm - you've given us no motive for why you should choose to do such a difficult thing so I'll just have to go for it.

I think this is totaly wrapped-up in what you want to do with the rest of your life. Learning a new language takes years and years and, yes, even more years to achieve. It will take away almost a third of your life to make it complete so you have to think VERY carefully about choosing.

As you know, the Chinese are close to taking over the world. They'll soon (well, given 50 years) overtake the United States as a manufactuer and therefore become the supplier to the world and the US will fall way behind. Wallmart is just the tip of the iceburg. They're also a nuculer power with a million strong army that has weapons that the United States can only dream about. They WILL be the super power of the future both in arms and economically. They've planned really well and we haven't.

So, it depends totally on what you want to do with your life. If you want to be on "top" of the new world economy and rise to the top in your job, learn chinese or, at least, japanese. Asia is where the future of the world exists.

I went for spanish because I had a whole different objective. I'm gay and I got sick and tired of how I was hated here in the United States and so I learned to get away to where I was not only accepted but loved and cared about. That was really important to me and my life. I'm sure you can understand that but I didn't want to die unwanted.

So, once again, what language you choose depends totally on what you want to do with your life. Unless, you're asking, "what language would be most easy to learn in college?" Well, that's a different story and you'll have to email me about that. I can tell you that if that's all it means to you.

Rich
[e-mail]

Answer 3

Depends on what you want to do with it. If you're an American, the language you will need most is Spanish. In any kind of service industry, from medicine to food service, it will help immensely to know Spanish. If you're going into the corporate world of finance, learn any of (or all!) the Asian languages. That's where the growing markets are. If you want to learn a language in order to get a high-paying or exotic job, learn Arabic. The government and corporate worlds are desperate for Arabic translators. And as an added bonus, you get to help bridge the gap - your own little part for world peace!

Answer 4

Litehaus makes no sense. He basically said "I'm gay. I needed love. Therefore, I learned Spanish." What? Either way it's strange because Spanish culture is waaaay more homophobic than American/English.

My advice to you is to learn none. You don't seem committed or have any idea of what you really want to learn. When you want to really learn another language, you know which one and why. This is what motivates you to learn more and more. Otherwise, you'll probably just drop it along the road after spending time and money on something you'll forget.

Answer 5

I speak Spanish, English, French, Italian and Portuguese. However, I would say that Mandarin is the language of the future. Have a go!

Answer 6

Spanish seems to be most used in the USA after English so it might help in your career to be able to speak it. For English speaking adults Spanish seems to be easier to grasp then some of the other languages.
Another choice would be sign language because it is universal and can be used in any country.

Answer 7

Spanish, but not because I prefer it. In the states and especially in CA, where I live, it's pretty much the primary language. I know it should be that everyone who moves to America should learn English but that's just not reality so I wouldn't mind at least understanding it.

Answer 8

French, because a lot of the words sound like English words, and really when you learn it you find that you know quite a lot of the words already.

Answer 9

Spanish -- if you live in the U.S., this is self-evident.

Mandarin Chinese -- 1/5 of the world's population is Chinese. China is becoming huge and much more influential in world affairs.

Arabic -- so much of the world's current conflicts are based on mistrust between the Western world and the Middle East. Learning Arabic would be a step in the right direction.

Answer 10

Latin. Because a lot of other languages derive from that, so I would be able to understand a lot more languages

Answer 11

If you need for the economy.
Then Spanish and / or French

If you need for the arts and culture.
Then Italian Then

If you need for the additional for health.
Then Chinese

Ciao