Which asian language should i learn

The Korean language is an interesting one to learn, as its characters are phonological: the shapes are similar to the shape of your mouth as you make the sound. It is a unique writing system that makes the language an easy one to learn. You can make big bucks if you know a second language. According to The Economist , knowing Spanish will give you a 1. Globalization is on the rise, and our world is always growing smaller. Those in-demand jobs may expect applicants to know at least two languages — especially if companies work across global teams or with foreign business partners.

Having fluency in several languages will help you stand out on your applications, especially if they are in-demand languages. Mandarin Chinese tops the list of most commonly spoken native languages with million native speakers. With less than million second language speakers, the vast majority of Mandarin speakers are native and also located in mainland China. When it comes to second languages, English takes the cake, with over million second language speakers, which makes up the majority of the number of English speakers overall.

Arabic is also a popular second language. There is, and you may be surprised to learn it is… French! French colonizers spread out all over the world, and as a result, there are both native and nonnative speakers in every continent. A little less than half of all web content is written in Russian!

Plenty is written in English as well, but if you are all about the internet life, you may want to learn some Russian. This is due to the rapidly growing economy of Brazil. The native language of Brazil is Portuguese, an effect of colonizers in the area from Portugal. So there you have it — a list of the top most important languages to learn in Which one will you choose? Apply Now. Request Info. Ask a student. UoPeople Arabic. Business Administration.

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So knowing Japanese, Mandarin or a different Asian language could be an especially super useful skill that gives you a competitive edge. For many people, a fondness for or direct connection to a certain Asian culture sparks the desire to learn a language. Language can open the door to travel , communication with native speakers, the ability to enjoy books and film firsthand, and more. Maybe you have friends who are Vietnamese and you would love to be able to speak with them in Vietnamese.

Maybe your parents, grandparents or other relatives are from China and you want to travel there with them someday or eavesdrop on their conversations. If you speak Japanese, you have the ability to help out both parties. Language sensitivity is another advantage, and also just something important for anyone to consider.

Not only can this save you from embarrassing mistakes and save the Asian people around you from having to deal with those mistakes, but it can enhance your appreciation for the differences between Asian cultures.

Learning an Asian language can give you a chance to enjoy the popular culture of that language no matter where you are. For example, maybe you like to listen to K-pop or J-pop. More and more people globally are listening to and enjoying pop music from Asia. There is no obvious answer to this question. One is how many people in the world speak the language.

However, the consideration of this factor also works in the other direction. Another thing to consider is the nature of the written language. In Japan, for example, there are two phonetic alphabets , hiragana and katakana, along with kanji, a written form that uses Chinese characters.

All these forms are used daily. You might consider learning Cantonese if you intend on settling in Hong Kong, Macau, or Guangzhou for example. If your goal is to learn the history of Chinese and connect with the roots of the language itself, then Cantonese would also be the best option.

We would recommend you to start learning Mandarin first since it's said to be easier to learn and then build up to Cantonese. Tandem Language Exchange connects language learners with native Mandarin and Cantonese speakers all over the world through our web and mobile app. With millions of members, you will have a pretty easy time finding a language exchange partner who matches your interests and language learning goals.

Through two-way, open, and direct communication with your language partner, you are given a unique insight into the Chinese cultural identity. Use our in-app translation feature to help compose a message or translate an incoming one. Correct your Tandem partner's message or add a comment to help them learn and progress. Still not sure about Chinese pronunciation? Your learning preferences are covered on Tandem with options to practice your Cantonese, Mandarin simplified and traditional , or Chinese sign language via text, voice notes, and video calling.

Download the Tandem app or head to our web app and master the Chinese language now! C December 7, 3-min read. What language do you want to practice? What are the differences between Mandarin and Cantonese? Pronunciation Mandarin and Cantonese are not mutually intelligible, meaning someone who only speaks Mandarin will generally not be able to understand Cantonese and vice versa.