Best foreign language to learn?

[Dooling37]

Hello all --

Curious for opinions about what the best foreign language would be to learn, from several perspectives:
- level of difficulty (preferably not extremely difficult, e.g., Chinese (from what I hear))
- level of use / uniqueness (i.e., not as rare as, say, swahili, but would be nice to learn something that not everyone and their mother seemingly already knows (e.g., spanish))
- 'sound' of the language (i.e., italian = beautiful, german = ugly)
- practicality / business use (i.e., german is probably a useful language, from a business perspective)

I would like to start (slowly) learning a foreign language as a personal goal. I guess I feel 'ignorant' only being able to communicate in English (and not that eloquently, at that).

Thoughts / opinions?

Thanks alot.

 

[ScrapSilicon]

Farsi

 

[DevilsAdvocate]

but would be nice to learn something that not everyone and their mother seemingly already knows (e.g., spanish)


....which is precisely why Spanish is a good choice. With NAFTA, MERCOSUR, and all of the other trade treaties, Spanish is by far the most useful language for business purposes in the United States. My BA is Spanish has served me well in the job market.

 

[LordUnum]

Spanish of course. A big plus when here in the West, esp. L.A. :Q

It was actually my FIRST language being born here with an American father, and Central American mother. Still can handle speaking/writing/reading/understanding in both very well. Also a bit fluent in German, too.

 

[notfred]

Cherokee

 

[Danman]

I'd have to say Spanish if you live in a area where there are a lot of minorities. Like Miami where I lived before, you really need to learn Spanish to get by in that city!

 

[ScrapSilicon]

Originally posted by: notfred
Cherokee

rkgj m*sjg?

 

[DevilsAdvocate]

Of course there is always Jive

 

[HypNoTic]

i'd say French, Spanish or Italian

French :
- allow you to visit the whole Canada and finally understand what they say
- comply with the 2 official languages used in Canada
- allow you to visit a good part of Europe (Frenchies with cheezy smell, not for me, but if you like...)
- not that hard to learn, use the same "grecko-latin" wording base as English
- you'll understand what i way :0)

Spanish :
- allow you to visit most part of Southern America
- 2nd most spoken language worldwide

Italian :
- pasta ?
- pizza ?
- more food ?

 

[Ynog]

All depends on what you want to do with the language.

In the US now the best language other than English, is Spanish.
With more Latin Americans coming into the country the Spanish
language is becoming more excepted.

If you really don't want to learn Spanish, there is always French, but
its more limited. Portugeuse is another, closer to Spanish than French.

You pointed out many points of different languages. What would you
use it for. If its to not be ignorant, Spanish.

If you are teaching yourself Chinese, Japanese, Russian, require you to
learn a new alphabet. That might be more difficult than you want.

Pronouncation is another thing. If you can pronounce the more "better sounding"
languages than go for them. German may not sound as nice but has a harder souding
and more like English pronouncation.

I know French and Spanish, and either of those are good picks.
Just keep in mind learning a unique language that you will never use might prove
you are not ignorant, but its not the smartest thing you can do.
If you are going to spend the time to learn a language, atleast make sure you will
use and and not waste your time.

 

[Yossarian]

try sign language, it's fun. it's also cool to be able to have a conversation with someone from 20 feet away, or someone in a car in the next lane.

 

[CJZ]

Spanish, quite useful in states with large spanish-speaking populations like California.

 

[Dooling37]

Thanks for all of the replies already.

I should have mentioned that I took 5 years of French in High school. I've forgotten pretty much everything (lack of use), and have no real desire to re-learn it, even though it would probably be easiest. Not a big fan of the French people (no offense, just my opinion).

I guess the primary motivation for learning a language would be for business purposes -- possibility of being assigned to work in a foreign country for some period of time is intriguing to me.

Spanish would certainly be helpful around here (D.C.), and would allow the possibility of working in some beautiful countries, I'm sure. I guess I would just like to be a little more 'unique.' ; )

LordUnum -- what do you think of German? difficult, hard to pronounce, etc.?

I guess I would defintely prefer to learn a language based on the same alphabet, which narrows the choices considerably.

I would also definitely use the language on a semi-regular basis, to make sure I don't make the same mistake I already have (with French).

Thanks again.

 

latin and greek

 

[Jfur]

for a long-term investment, go with Mandarin

 

[Ausm]

English?

Ausm

 

[BeauJangles]

Originally posted by: PipBoy
try sign language, it's fun. it's also cool to be able to have a conversation with someone from 20 feet away, or someone in a car in the next lane.

The only sign language I need for someone in a car near my is my middle finger

 

[Spamela]

do a poll!

i vote for spanish: moderately easy to learn, learning it improves your English, sounds good (except when spoken during radio commercials), language of the future for big parts of the USA.

 

[Ameesh]

Originally posted by: Jfur
for a long-term investment, go with Mandarin

cantonese!

 

[denali]

Since you already know/knew French how about Romanian it's similar to French. Not the most useful as it's only used in one country. Sounds like you want a language that can be used in multiple countries. In that case I would suggest the following,

Spanish - useful in Central/South America and parts of North America, along with Spain.

French - France, Belgium, Canada, parts of Africa and Switzerland.

Portugeese - Portugal, Brazil

German - Germany, Switzerland, Austria, also useful in parts of Europe that were under German control during WWII.

Russian - Usefull all the former USSR countries.

Arabic - Useful in the Middle East.

Probally others that might be good but this is all I can think of at the moment. Depending on the country/work you are looking for you can get by just fine with English only.

 

[ba2ng]

depends on where you wanna do business in the future......

i do suggest though u just at least try to recall a little of those 5 years of French.... then try to learn Mandarin Chinese.... trust me u'll go places.....
Chinese people are going to dominate the future of the business world

 

[goob2k]

Originally posted by: FallenHero
latin and greek

Very good idea, though I'd lean to Latin more than Greek since you don't have to learn another alphabet and more English words come from Latin than Greek. You won't find many people that speak it, but you can look uber cool by reading the Aeneid and Juvenal in Latin. Also, I learned more English grammar in Latin class than I did in English class (which may or may not reflect well on the quality of English classes these days).

EDIT: It also doesn't meet your criteria as being useful.

 

[KGB1]

Japanese, Latin, Chinese and Arabic (if need be)

 

[Miramonti]

Spanish, without question. Aside from english its the most spoken language in regards to the amount of countries that speak it...not to mention its the 2nd most spoken language in the US.

 

[Scarpozzi]

I vote English....and if it's not foreign to your country, move somewhere else.