What Language Should I Learn? A Practical Guide

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“What language should I learn?” is one of the questions I get most often.

I could use that power to create my own army of Na’vi speakers. More usefully, I can give you a way to make the decision for yourself.

The best choice is the language you have a real reason and a realistic opportunity to use. Speaker totals, prestige and someone else’s favourite language matter far less than what you want to do with it.

A note from the Fluent in 3 Months team before we get started: You can chat away with a native speaker for at least 15 minutes with the “Fluent in 3 Months” method. All it takes is 90 days. Tap this link to find out more.

There is no bulletproof answer, but there is a useful decision process. Start with your purpose, the people and resources you can reach, and the effort you are willing to put in.

Should I Learn the Language With the Most Speakers?

The size of a language can matter, but a league table is a shaky place to start. Rankings change depending on whether they count first-language speakers, all speakers, individual languages or larger groupings. Our guide to the most spoken languages explains the method behind the numbers.

Chinese and Arabic are not “fake” languages. Each name can refer to a standard language as well as a wider group of varieties, and some spoken varieties are not mutually intelligible. Portuguese also varies between Brazil, Portugal and other countries, but learners do not have to relearn it from scratch every time they cross a border.

The practical question is not how many speakers exist worldwide. It is how many people you are likely to meet, where you can meet them, and what you want to do together.

A language with a smaller speaker population may be the better choice if it connects you to family, neighbours, a place you visit often or media you love. Irish, for example, offers more than enough opportunities for a committed learner with access to its communities.

Use speaker numbers as context, not as the answer.

Should I Choose the Language That Looks Best on My CV?

A language can be a sensible career choice, but “most spoken” does not automatically mean “most useful”. Demand depends on your location, industry, role and level of proficiency.

I worked as a translator for several years. Less common language combinations sometimes faced less competition, but a rare language was not a guarantee of better pay or steady work.

If work is your main reason, check evidence from the market you want to enter. Read at least 20 current job adverts, note the language and proficiency each one asks for, and talk to people already doing that work. German may be useful for one European role, while Spanish may be more useful for a particular role in the United States. The job description matters more than a global ranking.

A language on your CV is strongest when you can show what you can do with it: handle customers, work with documents, join meetings or pass a recognised proficiency exam.

Start With How You Plan to Use the Language

Decide what you want the language to let you do. Reading novels, talking with relatives, travelling, studying, watching films and working with clients are all valid goals. They simply lead to different priorities.

If an upcoming trip is driving the decision, you can work with me to choose a language and a practical way to begin.

Write one concrete “I can” goal. The ACTFL Can-Do Statements use this approach to help learners set goals and track progress. “I can introduce myself and ask three follow-up questions” is much easier to plan around than “I want to know Japanese”.

• Who do I want to speak, sign or write with?
• What do I want to read, watch or listen to?
• Where will I use the language during the next year?
• Can I reach teachers, conversation partners and material I enjoy?
• How much time can I give it each week?

Your goal can emphasise speaking, reading, listening, writing or signing. If conversation matters, making mistakes with other people is part of improving. If literature is the goal, reading deserves more of your time.

I answered a related question about choosing between two languages in this Q&A. That part starts at 4:09:

Choose for Personal and Cultural Reasons

My own choices usually begin with people and culture. I learn a language because I want to take part in conversations, spend time in a place, understand its media or build relationships there.

“Culture” is not one fixed personality shared by everyone who speaks a language. Think about the specific communities, places, writers, music, history or family connections that draw you in.

Learning a language only because it sounds impressive is weak fuel. Being a polyglot may spark someone’s curiosity, but it cannot replace having something to say or a genuine interest in the other person.

This is also why I do not choose purely by language family or supposed difficulty. I took on Mandarin Chinese because I wanted to spend time with people in Chinese-speaking communities, not because its grammar would look impressive on a list.

How I Choose My Next Language

I make the final choice myself, because I am the one who has to put in the hours. Recommendations can reveal options I had not considered, but a vote cannot supply my motivation.

My short version is:

• Name one thing you want to do in the language.
• Check that you can reach people and material that support that goal.
• Choose the language you still want to return to when the novelty wears off.

If two languages are tied, give each one the same seven-day trial. Learn a few useful phrases, have one short lesson or exchange, and try one piece of media. Then choose the one you are more willing to continue. That test will not predict your whole future, but it gives you better evidence than a quiz based on prestige or speaker totals.

You are allowed to change direction later. For now, pick a language with a clear use, make a small plan and start.