It goes without saying that studying a second (or third!) language is beneficial. The brain gains grey matter as a result of bilingualism, which enhances memory, judgment, and self-control. Beyond the obvious physical benefits, multilingual travelers are better capable of settling into their host countries. The advantages are clear, but how do you pick which language to learn?
It's important to think about your hobbies, vacation plans, educational aspirations, and job objectives while choosing a language. If you're still having trouble, we have some suggestions for the top languages to study in 2023.
Chinese
Given that 1.2 billion people speak Chinese in some form, it only seems logical to put it on this list. Chinese is the most frequently spoken language in the world. Even though there are many different dialects of Chinese, they still share a common writing system, thus mastering one will still enable you to converse with speakers of other dialects through written language.
Chinese is regarded as one of the hardest languages to learn, so it's important to choose a top-notch course that offers enough practice time. Learning Chinese is definitely worthwhile due to the growing use of the language in the corporate sector.
The most popular option for individuals learning Chinese is Mandarin, a dialect of the language that is also the official state language of China. By studying Mandarin, you can communicate with millions of people globally, especially those in China's vast and expanding market. Numerous career and vacation options are made possible by even a basic knowledge of Mandarin. Learning its hundreds of distinctive characters might be difficult, but it will definitely stimulate the mind!
Spanish
Almost often, Spanish is ranked highly on these lists, and for good reason. It has 477 million native speakers and more than 550 million speakers worldwide. In the United States, where 13% of the population speaks Spanish at home, it is an unofficial second language.
Even if you aren't taking in-person lessons, getting practice material shouldn't be difficult because there are a ton of other Spanish online guides. You can practice your comprehension by watching one of the many Spanish-language Netflix series, including the audience's favorite Money Heist. As your proficiency increases, consider watching without English subtitles.
Korean
With about 75 million speakers worldwide, Korean is the 18th most widely spoken language. The language will only become more significant as Korea's political and cultural impact on the world increases.
Additionally, learning Korean is much simpler and more logical than learning Chinese. The Korean alphabet, known as Hangul, consists of only 24 characters, each of which is specifically written to correspond to its pronunciation. Korean is one of the easiest languages to learn to write because of its logical structure.
Beyond the cultural significance of K-pop and other Korean entertainment, South Korea is home to some of the biggest corporations in the world. Anyone wishing to increase their worth at work or even obtain a job abroad would surely find it helpful to have a basic grasp of the language.
French
It's understandable why French is the second most popular foreign language in the world after English. 29 nations, including France and Canada, have French as their official language, so whether you travel to Tunisia, Senegal, or Switzerland, you should have no trouble interacting with natives.
Since there are more than 300 million native French speakers worldwide, every country teaches the language. French is also regarded as one of the easiest languages to learn, and the availability of French-language information offers near-unlimited access to practice materials.
French is a Romance language, which means it has ties to Romanian, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese. Learning French might make learning the others easier if you want to become a polyglot (or it might be simple to learn if you already speak one of those languages!).
German
German may appear a little more familiar to English speakers than other languages, but it's still not simple. This is because they belong to the same language family. It is also spoken in Austria and Switzerland in addition to Germany. German is a fantastic language to learn if you like strict grammatical rules.
Prior to English's takeover after World War I, German was regarded as "the language of science." However, German continues to have a strong tradition of intellectual and scientific writing, making it a great language to study if those topics are among your interests.
Japanese
Even though Japanese is mostly spoken in Japan, there are several benefits to learning it. For one, there is the sheer challenge of it. Japanese is one of the hardest languages to learn due to its three writing systems, complex grammar, and lack of linguistically related languages.
But it's simple to understand why the effort is worthwhile. Japan is a well-known travel destination due to its extensive and fascinating history, and watching your favorite anime as you study will help you stay motivated.
By GDP, Japan has the third-largest economy and some of the world's most innovative businesses are based there. Japanese is the third most commonly used language online, making it possible to undertake essential business communications from anywhere in the globe! Learning one of the primary Internet languages will set you apart in the near future as businesses increasingly operate virtually.
Italian
The most comfortable language for English speakers looking to improve their language abilities is Italian. There are many words and sounds in both Italian and English that have a similar Latin origin. Beyond Spanish and German, Italian is the language with the fastest-growing high school and college enrolment in the US. However, since 2000, the number of US families that speak Italian has progressively decreased despite an increase in course enrolment.
Italy is a popular tourist destination since it has one of the most developed economies in the world and has the biggest concentration of culturally significant sites. Being exposed to Italian will result in a more memorable and real experience when visiting Italy.
Portuguese
Portuguese is the sixth most natively spoken language in the world, with a staggering 200 million native speakers and approximately 270 million total speakers. Portuguese is spoken in a few African nations, including Angola, Guinea-Bissau, and Cape Verde, extending its influence beyond Brazil and Portugal. Ten nations from South America, Africa, and Europe all speak it as their official language.
Beyond the statistics, though, studying Portuguese is a wonderful choice for individuals who value the arts. Brazil is the home of several musical genres, including bossa nova, samba, and funk carioca. The native tongue of authors like Paolo Coelho and José Saramago is Portuguese.
Hindi
Did you know that Hindi is the third most spoken language in the world? Learning Hindi can help you advance your career and establish connections with Hindi-speaking populations throughout the world if you want to work in international business or virtually any field.
Hindi learning could be simpler than you think if you already speak English well. Words like "jungle," "shampoo," and "bungalow" are all translated from Hindi.
Arabic
Although Arabic is a lovely language, learning it is typically challenging for English speakers. One reason for that is that it differs greatly depending on where it is spoken. A speaker of Arabic from Algeria may not be able to comprehend a speaker from Lebanon, and vice versa.
The majority of courses, however, will instruct you in Modern Standard Arabic, or MSA. You can converse with Arabic speakers from practically any nation using this standardized version of the language that is taught in schools throughout the Arab world. Globally, MSA is utilized by several businesses, governments, and media outlets.
However, you could also acquire the dialect to help you in day-to-day living when traveling and making acquaintances if you have a specific Arabic-speaking nation in mind. Popular dialects include Egyptian, Levantine, and North African.
At the end of the day, the best language to learn is the one you are most interested in learning since this will keep you inspired to learn and practice no matter what obstacles you encounter. So, whether your goal is to make friends with the people in Egypt or strike commercial deals in Mandarin, know that your dedication will lead to a world of opportunities. So why not pick up a new language in 2023?
