If you’re reading this, you most likely have already made the decision to learn a second language. Perhaps, though, you haven’t decided exactly which language it is that you want to learn. If this sounds like you, the question you need to ask yourself is: “Why do I want to learn another language?”  Establishing the reasons why you have made this decision will help to cure your language-choosing indecisiveness. With this in mind, here are a few helpful ways to decide which language is best suited for you and your personal language-learning goals.

The motivation behind learning a language can be as simple as wanting a new, interesting hobby. If this is your first experience learning a second language and your goal is just simply to learn, with no additional goals such as traveling to a specific country or using the language in a business setting, you may want to choose a language with a lower level of difficulty. Choosing your “easy language” is largely dependent upon the language you already know. Each language holds its own challenges, but the inexperienced learner can make the learning process easier by choosing a language similar to that of his or her own native language.  For the English speaker looking for an easier learning experience, learning Spanish would be a wiser choice than a language such as Arabic, given the similarities between the former two languages and the vast differences between the latter two.

According to Anne Merritt of Matador Abroad, “There are a lot of languages out there sharing common traits with English, which is great news when it comes to language study. When familiar structure or vocabulary is in place, the learning process becomes faster and easier.”

Another factor to consider when choosing a second language is geography. If you’re taking the time to learn a new language, it only makes sense that you would want to use it in your everyday life. Having daily opportunities to speak your new language is not only fun, but is a positive reinforcement that will continue to motivate your studying. For a person living in states such as California, New Mexico, or Texas – areas with a large Spanish-speaking population –  knowing Spanish would be a highly beneficial skill to have. On the other hand, someone living in New York, a state that is home to a much greater and more varied number of non-native English speakers, will be privy to a wider range of languages. In addition to more common languages such as Spanish and Chinese, the opportunities also exist for using less common languages, such as Russian, Italian, or Haitian Creole.

In our global world, as the population continues to grow and becomes increasingly more diverse, so too will the workforce. In addition to language difficulty and geography, your job or career may also directly influence which language you choose. Being bilingual is always considered an asset to an employer. Whether your job is in government, education,  health, business, law enforcement, or just requires you to travel, being bilingual or even multilingual is highly advantageous and makes you, as an employee, much more valuable.

“Being fluent in a foreign language can only increase the opportunities available to you and your chances of obtaining positions over other candidates who are not fluent in another language,” said Cheryl Finlay, the director of Student Employment and Placement Assistance at The University of Pittsburgh.

Whether you choose a second language based on its level of ease, geographic location, or work-related benefits, the fact of the matter is that you can only be successful in learning a foreign language with dedication, hard work, and good ol’ determination.

Regardless of what language you choose to learn, trust in Transparent Language to assist you in successfully reaching your foreign language learning goals. With over 100 languages available, there is a learning option for everyone!

– B.F. Norton