What languages are the most relevant for learning in 2019? We provide a list of languages to study, as well as give useful tips on learning them.
Chinese
Mandarin Chinese is not the easiest among other languages to study, yet once you do, you get a possibility to communicate effectively with billion people in the world.
The number of companies looking for Mandarin speaking employees has grown by 35% when compared to the previous years and the experts predict that China will become an economic powerhouse in the globalized economy. It’s likely that there will be Mandarin speakers wherever you go so you’ll be able to communicate easily.
Spanish
This language has spread widely across Europe and the Americas making it a number one language among other languages to study in 2019 after Mandarin Chinese. This may have something to do with its popularity in music and other media but there is a growing number of non-native speakers.
It already has 470 million native speakers and the numbers are only rising.
With Spanish-speaking countries being among the leaders in the globalized economy, you definitely need to take this opportunity.
Arabic
Arabic may sound like a strange choice at first but today 300 million people speak this language in 57 countries all over the world. The Arabic language is especially appealing because of the economic wealth of the Arabic countries.
The Middle Eastern economy has increased by 120% over the years and it’s an enormous growth rate. If you want to enter that economy, you need to learn the language, even though it may be slightly difficult.
German
Germany has the highest GDP in Europe and it’s another economic powerhouse where people will find new careers. Knowing German in business will offer you the highest bonuses over the other languages to study.
It’s one of the three official languages of the European Union and it’s the most popular language in Europe, especially in Central and Eastern Europe.
French
French is a language of romance with 80 million native and over 153 million non-native speakers. Because of France’s colonial past, more people speak this language outside France than in France. People learn it for pleasure and business alike.
7 simple tips on how to learn a new language:
1. Know your motivation
This might sound obvious, but if you don’t have a good reason to learn a language, you are less likely to stay motivated over the long-run.
2. Find a partner
It is always easier to memorize the material with a study-buddy. Finding some kind of partner will push both of you to always try just a little harder and stay with it.
3. Talk to yourself
When you have no one else to speak to, there’s nothing wrong with talking to yourself in a foreign language.
It might sound weird, but speaking to yourself in a language is a great way to practice if you’re not able to use it all the time.
If you don’t know how to go about learning a new language, this can keep new words and phrases fresh in your mind. It also helps build up your confidence for the next time you speak with someone.
4. Keep it relevant
If you make conversation a goal from the beginning, you’re less likely to get lost in textbooks. Talking to people is one of the best ways to learn a language because it keeps the learning process relevant to you.
You’re learning a language to be good enough to use it. You will not speak it only to yourself. The creative side is really being able to put the language you’re learning into a more useful, general, everyday setting — be that through writing songs, wanting to speak to people, or using it when you go abroad. You don’t have to go abroad.
5. Leave your comfort zone
Willingness to make mistakes means being ready to put yourself in potentially embarrassing situations. This can be scary, but it’s the only way to develop and improve. No matter how much you learn, you won’t ever speak a language without putting yourself out there: talk to strangers in the language, ask for directions, order food, try to tell a joke. The more often you do this, the bigger your comfort zone becomes and the more at ease you can be in new situations.
At the beginning, you will encounter difficulties: maybe the pronunciation, maybe the grammar, the syntax, or you don’t really get the sayings. Every native speaker has a feel for his or her own language, and that’s basically what makes a native-speaker — whether you can make the language your own.
6. Listen
You must learn to listen before you can speak. Every language sounds strange the first time you hear it, but the more you expose yourself to it the more familiar it becomes, and the easier it is to speak it properly.
7. Practice every single day
As you go about your day-to-day life and practice using your new language, resist the urge to judge each conversation as a success or failure. It’s tempting to be our own worst critic and beat ourselves up for not remembering a particular word or knowing how to express a thought. Instead, approach each interaction as a new opportunity for you to learn something.
Reflect on each conversation and give yourself constructive feedback. Some things you probably will need to think about are:
- What words/phrase would have served me in that conversation?
- What new words did I hear/see?
- How could I more have a similar conversation in the nearest future?
When you embrace the trials of the learning process, you’ll better enjoy and appreciate the journey which sets yourself up for more learning opportunities.
Remember, the success comes from the simple fact that you are trying.
Read about If You’re Interested in Learning Something New: Top 5 Languages
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