| "What are the top foreign languages to learn?" is | | | | all those "candidate languages" are almost negligible |
| perhaps the most frequent question that people | | | | once you apply the right techniques? What if |
| ask me on the subject of learning foreign | | | | learning one foreign language is just as easy as |
| languages. | | | | learning another one? Which language would you |
| Most of the time, there's an assumption behind | | | | choose to learn then? |
| this question, namely learning a foreign language is | | | | The fact is, you should never listen to anyone |
| a prolonged and painful task. For many people, | | | | who's had a good or bad experience with a |
| learning a language is somewhat like asking "Which | | | | particular foreign language. Just because someone |
| mountain is a good starting point for reluctant | | | | had a horrible time with Chinese doesn't mean you |
| mountain climber? Mount Everest or Mount | | | | will too. Everyone will feel differently about a |
| Kilimanjaro?" Either answer is not desirable. | | | | specific foreign language according to his or her |
| But what if I tell you that any foreign language | | | | own education, background and social experience. |
| can be mastered within 6 to 12 months without | | | | By the way, did you know that Chinese is one of |
| nearly as much effort as you think it'll take? | | | | the simplest languages in terms of complexity? |
| Would the choice of foreign language to learn still | | | | The reason why many people find learning |
| be a serious issue? An analogy would be "Should | | | | Chinese such a traumatizing experience is because |
| you put on your right shoe first or your left | | | | it is not like other alphabet-based languages. |
| shoe?" | | | | Asking a native English speaker to switch to a |
| You may already be learning on one or more | | | | tonal language all of a sudden is indeed very |
| foreign languages already. If you know which | | | | demanding. |
| languages you want to master, good for you, but | | | | But for a new-born baby, speaking a tonal |
| if you don't, you may still want to ask questions | | | | language with little grammar could be easier than |
| such as "which are the top foreign languages to | | | | speaking a precise alphabet- based language with |
| learn?" or "which language is the most useful or | | | | a huge vocabulary and stringent grammar rules |
| most popular?". Still, the real question is "which one | | | | such as German. |
| should I learn as the starting point?" | | | | All those being said, the top foreign languages to |
| Some people may tell you that "the answer to | | | | learn are: |
| your question "depends on the goal you want to | | | | Spanish, French, German, Chinese, Arabic, Russian |
| achieve", but something tells me that it's not the | | | | Those include the official languages of the United |
| answer you'd like to hear. | | | | Nations. Since you're reading this, I assume your |
| If you have ever asked one of those questions, I | | | | command of English is already beyond "basic". As |
| suppose you don't feel strongly towards a | | | | for German, let's face it, 25% of the European |
| particular language and just want to hear some | | | | population speak it; it is the 2nd most popular |
| general language learning tips, or maybe you just | | | | internet language. The reason it is not listed in one |
| want to pick up a foreign language as quickly as | | | | of the official United Nations language is more |
| you can. | | | | political than anything else, i.e. it should be one of |
| But what if I tell you that the differences among | | | | the top foreign languages to learn. |