what is the most useful language to learn?

what is the most useful language to learn in this day and age for me.
i am currently 17 and i know 4 languages which include arabic, german, english and somali.

what 3 other languages would be? as i want my future career to be maths related and be outside the UK perhaps

Scroll to see replies

Reply 1

TheBigJosh

Chinese, the future global powerhouse. Need anymore advice? I study it at uni, along with French - another world language, though maybe not as massive. (in terms of commercialism)
When you say you know four languages, do you speak them fluently?

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 2

mrdetermination

Original post by TheBigJosh

Chinese, the future global powerhouse. Need anymore advice? I study it at uni, along with French - another world language, though maybe not as massive.
When you say you know four languages, do you speak them fluently?

yh except Somalian, my dad was teaching english when i was young and my mum taught me Arabic and Somalian, and in a couple month i would know german kinda good,

what do you think about Russian or spanish, also are you Chinese and how hard isit from english as thats the language i think with.

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 3

helpmekid

Hindi
Chinese
Portuguese

Reply 4

TheBigJosh

Interesting :smile:

Arabic is a great language to know I think :smile:

I would avoid Russian, I did a taster at uni, it just looked bland and for me there wasn't the demand for it when I looked into jobs. Though someone who studies Russian will of course tell you different! People and their degrees and all that :smile:

Spanish is good to learn, simple from what I hear, though I never got to grips with it. I did it as an elective last year and although got a 2:1 I never liked it. It's well spoken and common with graduates which is both a good thing and a flaw as it could have quite a saturated job market - but then again I don't know Spanish speaking Maths jobs!
Chinese is hard, one of the hardest to learn for English speakers. Fact. It has no alphabet, each word is a different picture, and as it is tonal words are easily mixed up. It depends on people's individual language acquisition, but it's for people that need a challenge, it's a lifelong thing though - words are so easy to forget! :smile:

Reply 5

Hello?

People who think they're in the know will tell you Chinese but that's nonsense. Chinese businesses want Chinese people who can also speak English. There are 2 billion of them, they're hardly in demand for a foreign labour force. English is the most important language, with French also being key and German very helpful if you want to work in business or the EU.

Reply 6

TheBigJosh

Original post by Hello?

Of course, I study Chinese so I will defend my ''useless'' degree. But you may want to get your facts correct, as there is 1.35 billion Chinese, not 2 billion, And Chinese is in demand all over the world as it unlocks huge business links. And as for not being in demand, search China and Algeria, China and the USA to name but two. Seems you know nothing! :smile:

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 7

RtGOAT

English.

If someone can't speak English they're not worth talking to tbh.

Reply 8

Swanbow

German, Portuguese or Spanish.

Reply 9

mrdetermination

Original post by RtGOAT

English.

If someone can't speak English they're not worth talking to tbh.

i believe every human is equal, and that's kind of one sided

Hindi

Original post by TheBigJosh

Keep telling yourself that.
1. Mandarin is much harder to learn than a European language. You're unlikely to have an excellent grasp of it after a mere 4 year course.
2. Most global businesses speak in English in order to ensure universal comprehension. Your Chinese will not help you in the workplace.
Just out of curiosity, which uni are you studying at?

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 12

TheBigJosh

Original post by Hello?

Please do not even try to tell me what my limitations are and whether I will or will not be able to have 'an excellent grasp' .
Now, when I apply for a interpreting jobs later in my life, and I have some Chinese in the room that cannot speak English - how will my Chinese not be useful in the workplace then?
I just love how you think you know everything and anything about this, when actually you are very misinformed. I feel sorry for you.

Reply 13

TheBigJosh

Original post by Lialore

Hindi

I would love to speak Hindi, can you? :smile:

Reply 14

mrdetermination

lets end this thread as it has served my purpose, thank you. no more discussion needed

Reply 15

Hello?

Original post by TheBigJosh

Don't. I'm not going to be the one who wants to be an interpreter. I mistakenly thought you were applying for top business jobs. My mistake.

Reply 16

Lialore

Original post by TheBigJosh

I would love to speak Hindi, can you? :smile:

Aw no, haha.
I speak English and a little German.
But India is meant to be the country on the rise, on track to become a serious world power in years to come and most of them can speak Hindi so I can see it being useful.

Reply 17

TheBigJosh

Original post by Lialore

I agree with you :smile:

I did Geography A-Level so know a little about India and globalisation, BRIC nations are ones to look out for! Maybe you should learn it! :P

Reply 18

Gridiron-Gangster

1) Hindi would be useful but many Indians in the business sector speak English so not a necessity.

2)Mandarin/Cantonese

3) Portuguese

4) Russian

5) No harm in having some Japanese, French and Spanish in your possession.