7+ BEST Languages to Learn as a Second Language [& For Business]

What language should I learn as a second language? Or for business?

This is a common question and there is no easy answer. It really depends on your goals, and what you’re looking for in a second language.

However, we’ve put together a list of five languages that we think are particularly well-suited for English speakers.

Best Languages to Learn as a Second Language & For Business

#1 Spanish

Spanish is one of the most popular languages to learn, and for good reason. It’s a very widely spoken language, with over 400 million native speakers worldwide.

Spanish is also fairly easy to learn for English speakers, due to its similarities with English.

#2 French

French is another popular choice for second language learners. It’s a beautiful language, and can be quite useful for travel or business.

French is a bit more challenging than Spanish, but still within the realm of possibility for English speakers.

#3 Mandarin Chinese

Mandarin Chinese is the most widely spoken language in the world, with over 1 billion native speakers. It is also a very challenging language to learn, due to its unique character set and tonal nature.

However, Mandarin Chinese can be an extremely rewarding experience, and will give you a real insight into Chinese culture.

#4 Italian

Italian is a beautiful language spoken by over 60 million people worldwide. It is fairly easy to learn for English speakers, due to its similarities with Spanish and French.

Italian is also a great choice if you’re interested in learning more about the culture and cuisine of Italy.

#5 German

German is a widely spoken language with over 100 million native speakers. It is a bit more challenging than some of the other languages on this list, but still within the realm of possibility for English speakers.

This is because both English and German are within the Indo-European family and classified under the Germanic branch.

Learning German can be extremely rewarding, and will give you a real insight into German culture.

#6 Portuguese

Portuguese is the 6th-most popular language in the world by the number of those who speak it as a first language. It has over 200 million speakers.

Portuguese is a Romance language, and as such, shares similarities with other Romance languages such as Spanish and French. This makes Portuguese fairly easy to learn for English speakers.

Portuguese is also spoken in a number of different countries, including Brazil and (naturally) Portugal and even some parts of Asia (Macau) and Africa (Mozambique), which can make it a very useful language for travel or business.

#7 Arabic

Arabic is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, with over 422 million native speakers. It is also the official language of a number of different countries, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Morocco.

Arabic can be quite challenging for English speakers due to its unique character set and grammar rules. However, it can be an extremely rewarding experience, and will give you a real insight into Arabic culture.

Conclusion – Best Languages to Learn

These are just a few of the many languages that you could learn as a second language or for business.

The best choice for you will depend on your goals and what you’re looking for in a language.

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