Top 10 Best Foreign Languages to Learn for Students

Learning foreign languages is an asset in this century because there are multiple advantages. Are you interested in learning a new language before you study abroad? Here’s an article compiling the top 10 best foreign languages to learn for Indian students. So check it out and get on to learning a new language. 

The best foreign language to learn are some of the most widely spoken languages in the world. To get a job abroad, it is essential to learn a foreign language. The best foreign language to learn for jobs can vary based on the student’s choice of country abroad. Learning a new language is an exhilarating experience, thus, students should consider learning a foreign language. English-speaking countries usually choose English as the main language for education. This is because English is important for communication in many areas like science, technology, and business. 

Why Learn Foreign Language for Indian Students? 

There are numerous reasons why students should consider learning a foreign language before studying abroad. These reasons are as follows:

• Learning a new language broadens points of view and gives a certain perspective to students because brain power increases.
• Cognition improves once students learn a foreign language. This in turn helps students in honing their problem-solving skills. 
• It allows students to experience new cultures and traditions associated with that language. 
• Foreign language skills enable easier mobility, travel and communication in foreign countries.
• Many top universities and colleges give a benefit to students who possess foreign language proficiency.
• Learning a foreign language provides a competitive advantage over monolingual candidates in the job market.
• Foreign languages open up opportunities for students to study or work abroad. The best foreign language for jobs abroad are - French, Arabic, German, Spanish, English and others.

Apart from these, students can learn foreign languages based on 

Top 10 Best Foreign Languages to Learn in 2024

The top 10 best foreign languages to learn should be sorted based on difficulty, total speakers and where the languages are taught. Best foreign language to learn in India are as follows:

1. Mandarin
2. Spanish
3. Portuguese
4. Japanese
5. Russian
6. Arabic
7. French
8. German
9. Korean
10. Italian

These languages are the most widely spoken ones in the world. Students can learn them based on their difficulty level set by FSI which categories these languages. Students can opt to learn any of these foreign languages based on their interests and the countries where they are spoken. To understand the culture of the country better, students can begin by learning the official language of the country they wish to study in. 

Best Foreign Languages to Learn in India

Do you want to learn foreign language and broaden your horizons? You can take up any foreign language given below and start learning. Check out the foreign languages and their details below, please note the average time of learning is based on the FSI - Difficult Languages List.

1. Mandarin

A Sino-Tibetan foreign language, Mandarin is the most widely spoken form of Chinese in China and the world based on Britannica. Mandarin is the second most spoken language in the world with 1.140 billion native speakers. It is China and Taiwan’s official language and one of Singapore’s too. Mandarin is a tonal language. There are four major tones and one neutral tone or the fifth tone. Mandarin is one of the hardest languages to learn the average time to learn Mandarin is 88 weeks.

2. Spanish 

Spanish is the second most popular and widely spoken foreign language globally. With 486 million native speakers and 559 million speakers worldwide, Spanish should be on your list of foreign language learning. Spoken across 21 major countries in America and Europe, Spanish speakers' worldview expands with its reach globally. Spanish language learning can benefit students who wish to settle in Spanish-speaking countries. Or also for those who have a love for the language and culture. Spanish is one of the easiest foreign languages to learn globally based on FSI - Difficult Languages because average time to learn is 24 weeks. So this is an added advantage for English speakers who want to study in Spain. 

Check out: List of 100+ Spanish Words for Students 

3. Portuguese

Another Indo-European Romance language on the list is Portuguese. With 236 million native speakers and 250 million speakers globally, Portuguese is also one of the easiest foreign languages to learn for Indian students based on FSI - Difficult Languages. Portuguese is widely spoken in Brazil and Portugal, but differently as they vary. One variant is, the Brazilian Portuguese and the other is Portugal’s Portuguese. Portuguese is a close cousin of Spanish because they both evolve from the same language family. Portuguese is also easy to learn as the average learning time is 24 weeks.  

4. Japanese 

Japanese is Japan's official language. Japanese is written in Kanji or pictographic script and has no specific origin. A native language of over 120 million, Japanese involves three writing systems - Hiragana (basic sounds), Katakana (foreign words) and Kanji (adopted Chinese characters). International students who want to study in Japan can start learning the language and start by learning learning Hiragana to understand basic Japanese words. Initially learning Japanese can be tricky but it’ll get easier eventually. It is also one of the hardest languages and requires 88 weeks of learning on average. Japan is the world’s third-largest economy and those who wish to be a part of it must learn the Japanese language. 

5. Russian

Russian is the world’s 8th most spoken foreign language as per Forbes. There are 116.83 million native Russian speakers, overall there are 265 million Russian language speakers globally. Russian is not just the official language of Russia but also of Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. Russia is also the world’s second-biggest economy, thus students who wish to take up a job in Russia after they graduate from Russian universities can learn the language. Russian is one of the toughest languages in the world for Indian students, including English speakers. Since Russian is one of the official languages of the United Nations (UN) among five others, Indian students should try learning it, it will take them 44 weeks on average to learn the language.

6. Arabic

Arabic is a Semitic language and traces its roots back to 1500. Written and read from right to left, is what makes Arabic unique. With more than 300 million Arabic speakers globally, Arabic is the language of the Middle East. The holy Quran is written in classical Arabic. For writing verses and poetry in 15th and 16th centuries, Arabic was widely used. Arabic is the official language of 22 countries and is also one of the six official languages of the UN. Learning Arabic can open doors for a student in literature, poetry and business. With a turnover of USD 3.4 trillion the countries in the Arab hold a significant position. Those who enjoy reading literature and poetry or even couplets, can learn Arabic. Also, students who wish to work in any of the 22 Arabic countries must learn the language. Since it is tough to learn Arabic, students would at least need 88 weeks of learning on average. 

7. French

Spoken by over 200 million people globally and is the most popular Romance language. French is not the official language of just France but of 23 other countries in EU and North America. Learning French is easy for Indian students it takes 24 weeks on average for learning. For this, regular practice is key.  Proficient French speakers can find high paying jobs in top industries in Europe and America alike. Thus, being literate in French can be an added advantage for students. 

You can begin learning French words with the help of this guide - 150+ Basic French Words for Students. 

8. German

German is the next language that students must learn on the list. German speakers are 100 million plus and it is also a Romance language. This Romance language family language is the toughest to learn. It takes about 30 weeks on average to learn this language. Students interested in studying in Germany should learn German before they study at German universities. Students can find their dream jobs with German proficiency in engineering, science, finance, and international relations, particularly within German and European companies.

Check: German Words for Your German Studies

9. Korean

Planning to study in South Korea soon? Then you should learn the Korean language. Korean proficiency also stands tall from a business perspective. It is doing very well in technology, manufacturing, and e-commerce. So students who want to be a part of any of these industries can go ahead and learn Korean within 88 weeks. 

10. Italian

Italian is one of the easiest languages to learn in the world and takes 24 weeks of learning on average. Students who are interested in studying in Italy and want to work there can learn Italian language. Though universities in Italy offer courses in English, but some universities also have additional courses for students to learn Italian. Learning Italian words can be challenging initially but as and when the student will progress they will get the hang of it. Students interested in luxury, branding, fashion and even automobile industries can learn Italian and be a part of the companies headquartered in Italy. 

Check out: 100+ Basic Italian Words for Students

How to Say Hello in Foreign Languages?

Now that you have understood why learning a foreign language is essential based on the country of study. You can check how to say hello in foreign language of your choice from the table below: 

You can build on your word power as you cross the learning stage of a given language. But you can always start by learning how to say hello in foreign language or even bye and a few more words commonly used.  

Resources to Learn Foreign Languages

Besides universities, students can consider other resources to learn foreign languages. While there is a lot of content available to learn a foreign language, students can still check out the following resources to rely upon:

• YouTube
• Language Learning Classes (online or offline)
• Language Apps - Memrise, Babbel, Preply
• Language-based Cultural Immersion: Use of apps like Tandem for exchange between students with native speakers of the language
• Books: The easiest way is to grab a book and begin a foreign language learning journey. 

There may be other resources to learn foreign languages for students. So students can choose them based on their convenience. 

Combining learning a foreign language with cultural immersion can be a beneficial factor for students going to study abroad. Students can opt to learn foreign languages based on FSI -  Difficult Languages. They categorised languages based on the average time to learn a language. However, time devoted to learning a language can vary from student to student. Ultimately, students should choose a foreign language that can help them grow, if not academically then professionally. 

If you enjoy learning new things and exploring something new, then you should add learning a foreign language to your bucket list too! Students who learn new languages can benefit in numerous ways and strengthen one’s CVs. So identify which foreign language can be beneficial in the long run for your skill building and also for your career abroad.