Picking out cool languages to learn can sound overwhelming. Not to mention practicing those unique languages to learn in real life. No need to worry though, the benefits of learning a new language always far outweigh your fears.
There are several ways to achieve your language learning goals abroad, including signing up for traditional language classes that focus on grammar, writing, and oral communication. Depending on your time and financial resources, you should consider an intensive course to get the most out of your time abroad.
There are many out-of-the-box ways to learn a language. You could go on a language program and sign up for a homestay! You get to live with a local family during your time abroad and get fully immersed in the language you are learning.
Another option is to work as an au pair. Usually, housing, meals, and sometimes the cost of language classes are included in exchange for you taking care of children and helping to tutor them in English.
There are so many other ways to learn a language, but first, let’s help you answer: What are some cool languages to learn?
What makes these languages unique?
Looking for some cool languages to learn? Let’s dive in.
Some of these languages probably will not come as a surprise to you. Some of these are the most useful languages to learn for both personal and professional purposes.
What can make these languages fun to learn is focusing on the different accents and dialects and learning about the cultures the language is a part of. That’s what makes some of these common languages cool languages to learn!
Also, it is beneficial to learn a language spoken in multiple countries with thousands to millions of speakers. It’s a great excuse to travel to those countries you want to see so you can practice your language skills and experience how valuable it is to speak another language!
Learning an additional language is about gaining the keys to a whole new world. You could rely on English in most instances around the world, but you are truly missing out.
To fully immerse yourself in a culture and connect with locals, language learning is the key. Start with basic phrases and common words, then start practicing right away!
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11 cool languages to learn this year
So, what is a cool language to learn? That depends on your interests and goals. First, think about why you want to learn another language. These cool languages to learn are based on travel and opportunities to practice, and how useful the language can be for your future abroad and at home:
1. English
- Why? English is known as a universal language for a reason! It’s the most spoken language in the world and should be number one on the list of cool languages to learn. A vast number of doors are opened to you once you understand the English language—ranging from increased business opportunities to ease of travel to many countries around the world.
- Where? United Kingdom, United States, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, Australia
- Recommended program: General English Classes
2. German
You’ll have plenty of beautiful places to practice this language.
- Why? Get ready for some long words! The German language is notorious for its long descriptive words capturing feelings and situations that can be difficult to translate back into English. For example, Schadenfreude means that you are happy that others are sad. There’s also Fremdscham, which can be described as the feeling of secondhand embarrassment. It’s so much fun to learn these words! You don’t need to be intimidated by the long words, as you can easily break them down to make them make more sense once you get the basics of German down.
- Where? Germany, Austria, Switzerland
- Recommended program: Volunteer to Teach English & Study German (1-12 Weeks)
3. Chinese
- Why? If you’re looking for unique languages to learn, look to Chinese. Within the Chinese language, there are several dialects, including Cantonese and Mandarin. Mandarin is the most commonly used dialect. Learning Chinese may not be easy, but it is one of the most spoken languages in the world, so it is absolutely worth it to give it a shot if you are interested!
- Where? China, Taiwan, Singapore
- Recommended program: Learn Chinese in China with GAC
4. Korean
Find your favorite K-pop group and press play. You’ll be learning Korean in no time!
- Why? South Korean popular culture has gone global in its popularity! Whether it’s the smooth dance moves and catchy songs from K-pop boy bands or the melodramatic storylines in the K-dramas, fans worldwide are hooked. Learning Korean right now is fun because you can use all the Korean pop culture content to learn the language.
- Where? South Korea
- Recommended program: Summer Korean Immersion Program at Seoul
5. Spanish
- Why? As one of the Romance languages, Spanish is a beautiful and fun language to learn. It’s spoken by over 500 million people in the world, so speaking Spanish is a useful skill to develop. If you live in the United States, being fluent in Spanish gives you major bonus points and helps you stand out from the rest when applying for jobs.
- Where? Spain, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Chile, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Bolivia, Honduras, Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Panama
- Recommended program: Spanish Immersion Programs | Learn Spanish in Latin America
6. Russian
Learning Russian means delving into classic literature…in the original!
- Why? Russian is a great language to learn, though it may seem intimidating at first. However, if you are interested in politics, global affairs, and history, learning the Russian language is a great option. Another option is to learn enough Russian that you can read classic literature in the original language! For instance, you could read Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, Gogol, and more.
- Where? Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia
- Recommended program: Standard Russian Group Course
7. Japanese
- Why? Learning the Japanese language is the essence of cool. You can have fun learning the language by reading manga, ordering and eating sushi, singing karaoke, watching anime, drinking matcha tea, and so on! Japanese popular culture is thriving globally and Japan’s beautiful cities in Osaka, Tokyo, Kyoto, and more are great hotspots for tourists to visit.
- Where? Japan
- Recommended program: Short-term Japanese Course & Cultural Activity in Hokkaido
8. Arabic
Learning a new language will open a world of culture, literature, travel, and conversation.
- Why? Arabic is spoken in various countries and cities throughout the world. Of course, some different dialects and accents may make it difficult to understand depending on where you are, but it’s a valuable language to learn. Generally, Arabic is spoken in the Middle East, North Africa, and the Arabian Peninsula. Also, interestingly, Arabic is read from right to left rather than left to right!
- Where? Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Palestine, Oman, Morocco, Somalia, United Arab Emirates
- Recommended program: Arabic Language Immersion Programs in Morocco
9. Italian
- Why? The country of Italy is constantly crawling with tourists roaming the cobblestone streets and taking in all the historical sites. You can get a leg up on the other tourists by learning Italian. While impressing the locals with your Italian language skills, you can also avoid tourist traps if you can read or speak the language. This is because the best restaurants in Italy are the ones without an English menu or pictures on the menu.
- Where? Italy
- Recommended program: Learn Italian in Tuscany @ Il Sasso Language Institute
10. French
Enhance your travel by speaking the language.
- Why? Paris, the capital of France, is known as “the city of love.” This idea of romance extends to the French language as well. Bonus, if you are interested in classic cinema, you can watch movies like “Breathless” or “Amelie” to immerse yourself in the French language while learning about the French culture itself.
- Where? France, Switzerland, Canada, Monaco, Morocco
- Recommended program: Intensive French Immersion Programs in Quebec City
11. Portuguese
- Why? Sports fans rejoice! Portuguese is a cool language to learn if you are interested in soccer (or football). This language is known for being spoken in Portugal and Brazil, which are two countries known for their intense love of the sport. You can’t go wrong with learning Portuguese if your goal is to combine your love for soccer with learning a cool language.
- Where? Portugal, Brazil
- Recommended program: Learn Portuguese in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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The best way to be cooler? Learn a new language!
Learning a cool new language can boost your confidence and impress others. There are so many languages to choose from. Think of where you want to go, what you want to study, and what interests you most, and get learning right away. There are so many programs available online, locally, and abroad!
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