Due to its frequency in international affairs, knowledge of Arabic opens up lucrative positions in and outside government.In its 11 strokes, the symbol encapsulates what it’s like to be an individual on the Internet. The United States has deemed Arabic a language of strategic importance. Popular dialects include Egyptian, Levantine, and North African. If you have a particular Arabic-speaking country in mind, however, you could also learn the dialect to help you with day-to-day life while traveling and making friends. MSA is used in many governments, businesses, and journalistic practices globally. This is a standardized version of the language taught in schools all over the Arab world and will help you communicate with Arabic speakers from almost any country. However, most programs will teach you Modern Standard Arabic, or MSA. An Arabic speaker from Lebanon may not understand a speaker from Algeria and vice versa. Part of that is because it varies widely depending on where it’s spoken. Popular places to learn Japanese include: JapanĪdditional reading: The 5 Best Cities for Studying Abroad in JapanĪrabic is a beautiful language that is generally difficult for English speakers to learn. Japanese is also the third most spoken language on the Internet, allowing for vital business communication right from home, wherever in the world that may be! With the recent move towards a more virtual business environment, learning one of the main languages of the Internet will set you apart in the near future. Japan is the third-largest economy (by GDP) and hosts some of the most innovative companies on the planet. Japan is a popular travel destination because of its rich and unique history, and it’s not hard to motivate yourself to learn when you can watch your favorite anime as practice. It’s easy to see why it’s worth the effort, however. With three writing systems, complex grammar, and virtually no linguistically related languages, Japanese is one of the most complex languages to learn.

For one, there is the sheer challenge of it. Though Japanese is mainly spoken in just Japan, there are still plenty of reasons to learn the language. Popular places to learn German include: Germany and AustriaĪdditional reading: The Ultimate Guide to Learning German Abroad Some of the greatest artists and thinkers of all time hailed from Germany, and it remains today a leading language in science, art, philosophy, and literature. German is the most widely spoken first language in the European Union, opening endless travel possibilities throughout the continent! German is also a useful language for business, as Germany boasts the 4th largest economy in the world (in GDP) and is its third-largest exporter. Nevertheless, German still has a rich history of scientific and academic literature, so it’s a great language to learn if those subjects are among your interests. German was once considered “the language of science” before English replaced it after World War I. German is an excellent choice for those who enjoy rigid grammar rules. It is spoken not only in Germany but also in Austria and Switzerland. This is because they are part of the same language family. Though it’s certainly not easy, English-speakers might find that German seems a little more familiar than other languages.

Popular places to learn Chinese include: China, Taiwan, and SingaporeĪdditional reading: The 6 Best Places To Learn Chinese (on a Budget) While challenging, learning its thousands of unique characters will surely stimulate any mind! A basic understanding of Mandarin opens up many business and travel opportunities. You can speak with millions worldwide by learning Mandarin, including those in China’s vast and growing economy. Mandarin, a dialect of Chinese and the official state language of China, is the most common option for those studying Chinese. The increasing importance of knowing Chinese in the business world makes learning the language well worth the effort. Though Chinese consists of various dialects, they use the same writing system, so learning one will still help you communicate with speakers of other dialects via the written word.Ĭhinese is often considered one of the most challenging languages to learn, making it vital to choose a great program that allows lots of room for practice. Chinese is the most widely spoken language in the world- spoken in some form by 1.2 billion people-so it only makes sense to include it on this list.

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