Language to learn

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30 Oct 2009
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Halifax, West Yorkshire
Been speaking to my boss recently discussing my future training.... my job is role is being an Export Co-ordinator meaning I deal with people from many many different countries.

I suggested I learn a language, which is something I have always wanted to do anyway, and he agreed which is great. Now I have to decide which one to choose, the percentage of people I work with is spread out around the world and there is no majority.

Sooo which would be the quickest language to learn. I know this depends on my personal abilities etc but what language's are known to being 'easier'

The only language I would cancel out is Spanish.

Joe
 
I hear Japanese is surprisingly easy to learn, once you get the alphabet down.

Edit: Of course, so many Japanese people speak English that it may be pretty pointless. Are you looking for something practical or something to enhance your profile?
 
The only language I would cancel out is Spanish.

LOL why? That was the language I was going to suggest as it's spoken by a hell of a lot of people around the world and is said to be quite easy for English speakers to learn.

Maybe Portuguese (for Brazil) or Arabic since that's where the money is these days.
 
I hear Japanese is surprisingly easy to learn, once you get the alphabet down.

Edit: Of course, so many Japanese people speak English that it may be pretty pointless. Are you looking for something practical or something to enhance your profile?

Seriously? I could imagine it being complex, a bit of both really, the expansion of my profile would allow me to visit the customers more freely using the language
 
Why cancel spanish? Remember not only spain speaks it, it would open up doors in south, central and even north america where there is a massive latino minority.

Of course, I say Russian! It acts as a springboard for other slavic languages as well, such as Czech and polish.
 
LOL why? That was the language I was going to suggest as it's spoken by a hell of a lot of people around the world and is said to be quite easy for English speakers to learn.

Maybe Portuguese (for Brazil) or Arabic since that's where the money is these days.

Part of my job is obviously to find new customers, and it really is pretty impossible to get a customer in spain. We deal with resin flooring but the Spanish are mad for tiles
 
Why cancel spanish? Remember not only spain speaks it, it would open up doors in south, central and even north america where there is a massive latino minority.

Of course, I say Russian! It acts as a springboard for other slavic languages as well, such as Czech and polish.

Polish I would definately be interested in as I have uncovered a potential massive customer there, but I dont think I could learn it quick enough to benefit
 
I hear Japanese is surprisingly easy to learn, once you get the alphabet down.

Edit: Of course, so many Japanese people speak English that it may be pretty pointless. Are you looking for something practical or something to enhance your profile?

I beg to differ. A good friend of mine is a Japanese translator and she said Japanese was the most difficult language to learn out if the five other languages she also speaks.

Stick with one of the non cyrillic European Languages, I would have suggested Spanish as it is the one you will come across most, but French, German or Italian are easy enough.

I speak Arabic, but wouldn't suggest it to learn quickly as it is hard to master, I still can't really read or write it and I've been speaking it for a decade.
 
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Thanks for the info guys, leaning more towards French and German, but what would you recommend for learning these languages. I can go on day release to college to learn, or would you say Rosetta stone sort of thing?
 
Why cancel out Spanish? Is it not the second (maybe even 1st) most used language?

I didnt know this until the Wiki page was posted, its definately now in consideration, will have to sit and chat with my Manager about where we aim to target and work on before I make a final decision
 
Spanish is the 2nd most commonly spoken language in the world after English... I'd say it was the best place to start...
 
Most developed countries / ones you'll do trade with will speak English or German mainly so learn those. French isnt spoken that widely out of france in non african countries its just a popular 2nd language.

German has a big influence, also Hungarian is a great inbetweeny for slavic languages and perhaps slovak, czech and polish too.
 
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