In this article, we take a look at the 5 best foreign languages to learn for a child. If you would like to take a look at our detailed analysis of language learning for children, you can go to 15 Best Foreign Languages to Learn for a Child.
05. Swedish
Rank of Economic Influence: 13
Number of Speakers: 10.8 million
FSI Category: 1
The power of the Swedish language is demonstrated by the fact that it makes it onto this list despite having such a small number of speakers compared to the other languages on this list. It is spoken mainly in Sweden, but the country has the world’s 23rd-largest economy by GDP and a robust labor market. It is also one of the happiest countries in the world, particularly well-known for its Scandinavian lifestyle. This is why Swedish is one of the best foreign languages for kids.
04. Italian
Rank of Economic Influence: 8
Number of Speakers: 67.9 million
FSI Category: 1
Other than Italy, Italian is mainly spoken in Vatican City and Switzerland. Italy is undoubtedly a prime location for children looking for career opportunities in food or fashion, and learning the language will only benefit them. Italy is also a center of literature, arts, and history, which makes the language even more important. Over a thousand US firms have offices in Italy, which showcases massive career potential.
03. Dutch
Rank of Economic Influence: 7
Number of Speakers: 23 million
FSI Category: 1
Dutch is the official language of the Netherlands, Belgium, Sint Maarten, Suriname, Curaçao, and Aruba. The Netherlands is the 5th happiest country in the world, while Belgium is one of the most famous European tourist destinations for Americans. Dutch is also closely linked to Afrikaans, which is another easy language for English speakers to learn and gives access to countries like South Africa and Namibia.
02. French
Rank of Economic Influence: 6
Number of Speakers: 309.8 million
FSI Category: 1
French is one of the best foreign languages to learn for a child because it is spoken in 29 countries around the world, in addition to France’s 11 overseas territories. Thus, it is one of the best languages for those who want to travel worldwide. It is also an official language of the UN and the only working language of the Secretariat, other than English. Culture is another big reason for kids to learn French because writers and artists like Victor Hugo, Albert Camus, Edith Piaf, and Jean-Paul Sartre belonged to France.
1. Spanish
Rank of Economic Influence: 5
Number of Speakers: 550.1 million
FSI Category: 1
Spanish is one of the easiest and best foreign languages for children. It is the official language of 21 countries across Europe and Latin America, boasting of its potential for tourism. It is also an official language of the UN and the most popular language on Duolingo Inc (NASDAQ:DUOL), with 33.4 million learners. Spanish is also the second most spoken language in the US, with over 42 million speakers. Thus, Spanish is the best foreign language to learn for children because it can also be of much use inside the US.
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