Source: www.insidermonkey.com
The article “15 Best Foreign Languages to Learn for a Child” by Zahaab Rehman ranks foreign languages based on their value for children to learn, considering factors like the number of speakers, economic influence, and the difficulty level for English speakers. Here’s a summary of the 15 languages along with their key statistics:
- Spanish:
- Economic Influence: Rank 5
- Number of Speakers: 550.1 million
- French:
- Economic Influence: Rank 6
- Number of Speakers: 309.8 million
- Dutch:
- Economic Influence: Rank 7
- Number of Speakers: 23 million
- Italian:
- Economic Influence: Rank 8
- Number of Speakers: 67.9 million
- Swedish:
- Economic Influence: Rank 13
- Number of Speakers: 10.8 million
- Portuguese:
- Economic Influence: Rank 19
- Number of Speakers: 263.6 million
- German:
- Economic Influence: Rank 3
- Number of Speakers: 133.2 million
- Malay:
- Economic Influence: Rank 17
- Number of Speakers: 200 million
- Russian:
- Economic Influence: Rank 12
- Number of Speakers: 255 million
- Hindi:
- Economic Influence: Rank 16
- Number of Speakers: 609.5 million
- Mandarin:
- Economic Influence: Rank 2
- Number of Speakers: 1.1 billion
- Japanese:
- Economic Influence: Rank 4
- Number of Speakers: 123.4 million
- Standard Arabic:
- Economic Influence: Rank 9
- Number of Speakers: 274 million
- Cantonese:
- Economic Influence: Rank 11
- Number of Speakers: 86.6 million
- Korean:
- Economic Influence: Rank 14
- Number of Speakers: 81.7 million
These languages were selected for their global significance, cultural and economic impact, and accessibility to English speakers. Learning these languages can provide children with numerous advantages, including enhanced career opportunities, cultural experiences, and cognitive development. For an in-depth analysis and further details on each language, you can refer to Zahaab Rehman’s full article via the links provided here: 15 Best Foreign Languages to Learn for a Child – Children Info Bank.