With the growth of the internet, and the speed and convenience of modern travel, the world seems to be getting smaller indeed. While the English language has benefited by the spread of mass communications, it is still only third, behind Mandarin and Spanish, in number of native speakers, according to the Wikipedia article “List of Languages by Number of Native Speakers”. While English does remain the most spoken language in the world, with approximately 750 million people speaking it as a first or second language and a further 750 million who speak it as an acquired language (Wikipedia), we still live in a multi-lingual world, with a total of approximately 2,796 separate languages spoken across the world and a further 7,000 to 8,000 dialects within those languages, according to the book Native Tongues by noted linguist Charles Berlitz, grandson of the famous linguist M.D. Berlitz, who spoke 58 languages!
There are a variety of reasons why one may wish to learn a foreign language today. For many, it represents career opportunity, with many companies offering increased pay and benefits for those with foreign language skills. Others may wish to get the most out of their travel experiences, or simply have a desire to acquire another tongue as a means of exploring and understanding a culture that they may not otherwise be able to observe. Whatever your reason, it is advisable to carefully consider which language you should learn.
If you are looking to increase your marketability on the job front, you will want to find out which languages would benefit you most in your current job, or the types of jobs you are seeking. Jobs in health care and social services, for example, often have a great need for Spanish speakers, due to immigrant populations, while a company based in the oil industry may look more for speakers of Arabic. Perhaps you have a cultural family history that includes a language you would like to learn. If you are hoping to learn a foreign language simply for your own enjoyment, consider where in the world you may want to travel in the future, or in which cultures you are most interested.
Whatever language you are leaning towards deciding to learn, you may also want to check your TV listings! Most markets today have at least a few channels with foreign language programming. In some parts of the country, Spanish and Portuguese programming is common, while in others Chinese languages or even Arabic may be offered. This can be a valuable tool in your language learning process, as it will offer both the opportunity to hear native speakers, and provide a glimpse of the cultural flavor associated with your new language. Don’t forget to check radio programming as well. Even if your local stations don’t offer programming in the language you are learning, you may be able to find it via streaming on the internet.
You will want to choose a language which has plenty of learning materials available. Fortunately, you can find self-tutorial materials on almost any language today, with a little help from the internet. Companies such as Rosetta Stone offer self-teaching programs in dozens of languages that you can order by mail, and most book stores will have some good self-teaching language packages that may be sufficient for you to get a good start. Choose one that has more than just the minimal introduction to vocabulary and grammar, and preferably one that offers intermediate and advanced materials as well as beginner’s. Stay away from those specifically geared for business travel, if you want to learn to speak fluently. If you’re short on time, you may want to purchase a language learning program that you can listen to while driving in your car, such as the Behind the Wheel series, which comes with texts as well.
Of course, there are many language learning opportunities to be found on the internet. In addition to finding language learning programs that may be downloaded to your computer, such as the Instant Immersion programs, there are many colleges and universities that offer beginning language courses that you can take for free online. Check out Guide to Online Schools, many of which offer some of their courses for free, including language courses, and Universities with the Best Free Online Courses. Another excellent site that cuts down on having to search around is Open Culture, which offers free lessons in 40 languages that you can download.
Taking your new language in small bites is preferable to trying to learn a large amount of material in a short time. A little each day, increasing the amount of time you spend on it gradually is the best bet for language learning. Above all, be patient! For most adults, learning a new language is not easy, and it is a skill that needs lots of practice to show the best results. If you find yourself frustrated, don’t give up! Perhaps you can find someone who will tutor you on a one-on-one basis for a short time, until you get the hang of it.
It is not easy to teach yourself to actually communicate fluently in your new language, unless you get the chance to actually communicate! For this reason, it is advisable to find a class, adult ed offering, or club in your area where you can meet with and speak to other speakers of your acquired tongue. If this is not possible, scheduling a trip to the area of the world where your language is spoken can be a fast-track way of promoting fluency, if you make the effort while there to speak to natives of the area. In any case, the more exposure you get, the more you will learn. Using television and radio as well as structured self-teaching courses, texts and as much face to face contact with other speakers as you can manage, you will be well on your way to acquiring a new language and being able to communicate with a whole new segment of the world’s population.
Wikipedia: List of Languages by Number of Native Speakers
Native Tongues (book) by Charles Berlitz, 1982 (0-448-12336-3)