- European Languages
- Vikash Gupta
- January 5, 2024
- 128 comments
- 197.8K views
- 11 minute read
Which European language to learn? French or Spanish or German?
Which is better or more useful, valuable, or easy? This article will attempt to solve the problem.
A few years back, I wrote, “Which foreign language to learn.”
It became one of the most popular articles on this blog.
The purpose of that article was not to suggest which one is best. My only intent was to elaborate on the importance and usefulness of different foreign languages.
And why you should learn it and embark on the enthralling journey of language learning!
Despite all my efforts, the question remains: “Which foreign language is best to learn,” remains a difficult question to answer.
I admit too many choices exhaust and confuse us and even make us unhappy and desperate.
I found a logical way to solve the problem.
Of all languages, there are three main confusions.
- European — German or Spanish or French?
- East Asian — Chinese, Japanese, or Korean?
- West Asian — Arabic, Persian, or Turkish?
Table of Contents
- Reasons and Reflections of Learning a Foreign Language
- German or French or Spanish: More useful or better?
- 1. Most Spoken and List of Places You’d Like to Visit or Study or Work.
- 2. Career objectivity and Job Opportunities
- 3. Difficulty level (French, Spanish, German) – Easiest to Learn
- 4. The economic and political relevance of the language in a global context
- 5.Which one do you prefer, or your interest lies? French or Spanish or German?
- Final Thought
Reasons and Reflections of Learning a Foreign Language
A foreign language is a unique thing for anyone to study and use.
There are many reasons why you should learn a foreign language.
One of the most sought-after skills in the professional world today is speaking one or more foreign languages.
Your native language or ability to speak a language like English no longer suffices.
There is a myriad of perks of learning a new language.
Most people who fancy learning a particular foreign language are inspired to do so due to the nature of their work.
But then, this is only beneficial for people already in paid employment or who have an apparent reason to study that particular language.
For instance, if you are in a long-term contractual and business relationship with a French firm or group of investors.
You will then become more motivated to learn French to maintain a cordial relationship with your business partners.
But what about those who are not in the same shoe as you? People with no defined or specific reasons to choose one particular language to learn but want to study?
Of all the reasons, careers in languages is the primary motivation for language enthusiasts.
You may have the wish to make a career as a translator or interpreter, interested in teaching, or perhaps getting a position in embassies is your long-cherished dream.
The possibilities can open up depending on your level of engagement with the language.
Do business operations or social interests cut across different aspects of languages, client or customer base, or other regions?
To this set of people, choosing what language to learn becomes an arduous task. Read along!
German or French or Spanish: More useful or better?
If you ever find yourself in this category.
You might be wondering which is the most important and valuable language you can add to your knowledge of English as an Indian?
Nevertheless, I have found five criteria to help you select the right European languages, i.e., French or Spanish or German.
1. Most Spoken and List of Places You’d Like to Visit or Study or Work.
(i) Spanish: If we take the number of people (native and non-native speakers) that are speaking the language “all over the world.”
Then Spanish is one of the three most widely spoken languages in the world after Mandarin and English.
Spanish is the official language of 20 Spanish countries worldwide.
Over 500 million Spanish-speaking populations across 44 countries make it one of the most important and valuable languages globally.
Planning to visit the US?
Then I’d go for Spanish. It is the most spoken language in South and Central America.
Plus, Spanish is advantageous in countries like the USA and Spain.
Moreover, Spanish fluency can go a long way towards helping you learn Portuguese, Catalan, and Filipino due to various similarities.
(ii) French: Like it or not, French is a global language.
It is probably the only language after English that is taught in all countries.
A widespread official tongue of 32 Francophone countries.
With over 300 million French speakers worldwide, it is a force to reckon with in the economic and political world.
French is also the second most spoken tongue by a total number of countries.
If your target countries are France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Québec (Canada), North and Central Africa, French is the best option.
(iii) German: The German language is spoken by over 100 million native speakers and 185 million speakers worldwide.
German is the official language of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Belgium, and Luxembourg.
It is also a lingua franca of Central and Eastern Europe.
While German is a distinct third in the category, it is still the most widely spoken native language in Europe.
If you have something to do with Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, German would statistically be more helpful.
These countries, however, are not strictly monolingual.
A large number of people in these countries do speak English, unlike French.
Conclusion: If you have the intention to travel, study, or even work in companies related to the origin of these countries. Then acquiring that corresponding language will be more beneficial in your career.
However, If nothing specific in mind, then the importance of foreign languages has little to do with speakers’ number.
It is much more to do with who those speakers are and where it is useful. Don’t give more than 10%weightage for this criteria.
2. Career objectivity and Job Opportunities
(i) Spanish: Thanks to rising career scope after learning Spanish, If you are engaged in business activities or seeking jobs in the BPO/KPO sectors beyond serving the interest of the local population, Spanish skills can be an asset for successful communication.
The majority of the BPOs and KPOs come from the United States, where Spanish is the second most dominant language after English.
The Spanish-speaking population’s colossal size in Latin America and the United States offers a great attraction on your resume.
Many Hispanic regions, such as Latin America, are specifically seeking bilateral cooperation with India. Moreover, like French, Spanish is also beneficial in the field of Tourism and Hospitality.
From conglomerates Aditya Birla Group to the IT giant TCS, several Indian companies have opened development centers or acquired companies all across Latin America.
Spanish will be beneficial in many sectors.
This approach opens a world of opportunities for many Indian companies, especially in the export sector, healthcare, banking, law, manufacturing, etc.
(ii) French: There are plenty of reasons to learn French.
France is a dominant economy in pharmaceuticals, fashion, aeronautics, telecommunications, energy production, and more.
If you have a career or do business in these fields, the French language can help you succeed.
France is also the number one point of tourists destination in the world. There were more than 85 million visitors in 2016 alone, and the numbers keep climbing.
And if you’re in the travel, tourism, or hospitality management business.
Perhaps, you love traveling to where the language is widespread.
French offers you the best chance of success, far more than what the German and Spanish can offer.
If you’re contemplating which language offers more job opportunities involving languages?
Then French has the edge over German or Spanish.
France also has a more significant influence on art and cuisine.
Paris is regarded as the world’s fashion capital, and it is also the home to the aviation industry.
If you want to be a chef or desire to work in the Food or Hotel industry or engaged in these fields, learning French would serve you more than Spanish or German can offer you.
If you are into export and import dealings with West Africa, North Africa, Central Africa.
If you plan to migrate to Canada, learning French will considerably benefit you compared to German or Spanish.
You can earn some additional points by taking the TEF or TCF test.
(iii) German: If you are into online marketing or doing business on the internet, the German language should be your priority.
It is because Germany has a well-defined and dominant internet presence.
The country’s top-level website tld — the .de is one of the highest-ranked domains in the world.
At some points, it ranked 2nd and 5th to dot com and has since remained a vital force in measuring internet market success.
Suppose you have a career in the publishing, auto, engineering, machines, shipbuilding, power sectors, psychology, or practical science sectors or are interested in importing and exporting these goods. In that case, Germany is the place to go.
And to be at a decisive advantage, you need to learn the German language.
From vehicles to machines to metals and chemical products, the German economy is a powerhouse that you can tap into through investment and speaking the language.
Because careers requiring German are high, like French, these are the two most taught and popular Foreign languages in India.
As a result, skilled foreign language teachers are finding their services in higher demand. Interested in literature or Music, German is more practical.
Conclusion: Think about your existing skills, academic qualification, industries, or jobs –you are interested in, possible immigration or higher studies or working visas, etc. It is the most critical criterion. Give 40% weightage.
3. Difficulty level (French, Spanish, German) – Easiest to Learn
(i) Spanish: Spanish probably got its reputation as the “easiest language” among the three.
It is because of being more phonetic and has fewer pronunciation rules than some other languages.
The language is rated very easy to learn.
Thanks to the language’s phonetic nature, it is easy to read words precisely as they are written.
Even though grammar is quite vast and lengthy, Spanish is the most straightforward language to learn between the three.
How long it takes to learn a language like Spanish?
Depending on one’s intellectual level, it may take two years to accomplish Spanish proficiency exams such as DELE B2 or equivalent SIELE test.
(ii) French: Of all the three languages in this group, French is the most difficult for Indians or English speakers.
There are several rules for French pronunciation that can drive English speakers crazy.
French pronunciation can seem tricky.
It is not phonetic in the sense that it’s not pronounced precisely how it’s spelled.
Some sounds don’t exist in English.As an English speaker, it is not a natural language to master!
You can complete the DELF B2 or DALF C1 level of the French proficiency test in 2-3 years.
(iii) German: Let me admit – German is as tricky as French.
The grammar part is quite confusing and challenging. Some might find the syntax and cases not easily discernible.
But one thing is sure.
If you are already an English speaker, then learning Germany shouldn’t be more difficult.
Well,at least in the beginning, since both languages belong to the same family tree.
Not to mention the fact that many Germans speak good English.
While French and Spanish are classes of the Romance languages, German and English relate to the Indo-European language family’s Germanic branch.
How long should it take to learn German?
It depends on how much you study and are dedicated.
It may take up to 2-3 years to achieve the German proficiency test, i.e., Goethe Zertifikat B2 or C1 or TestDaF.
Conclusion: Which is easier? Language difficulty is not very easy to define since it depends on innumerable factors, including language learning techniques.
It is an entirely subjective topic, and the difficulty level of any language varies significantly from one person to another. Plus, every tongue has both hard and easy parts.
For example, Spanish grammar is easy, but sometimes listening is quite tricky due to many dialects. On the other hand, the German grammar rules are very complicated, but the elementary and speaking part is somewhat ok.
On the other hand, French is a little challenging as far as accents and pronunciation are concerned. Moreover, the different dialects make it even more confusing. In short, Spanish is more straightforward than German and French.
I feel French is slightly more complicated than German and French though it is based on my personal experience. Don’t be surprised if you hear the opposite.
Difficulty level –Spanish – 6/10, German – 7/10, French – 7.5/10.Don’t learn any language just because it is easy or difficult. Instead, take this as the least relevant criterion, i.e., 5% weightage.
4. The economic and political relevance of the language in a global context
Looking at the above criteria, we can quickly establish that, apart from English, seven languages meet these criteria: Chinese, Arabic, French, Spanish, Japanese, Russian, and German.
Out of these seven languages, we can select three – German Vs. French Vs. Spanish — to narrow down the choice.
Therefore, what languages to learn would become French, Spanish, or German, and their reasons why you would want to study either of these language(s).
A language becoming a global language has little to do with the number of people who speak it. It is much more to do with who those speakers are.
Without a strong power-base, of whatever kind, no language can make progress as an international medium of communication.
When countries succeed on the international stage, their language succeeds.
When they fail, their language fails. Take the example of Russian.
There was a time when it was one of the most common European languages in India and was taught in several cities and a host of universities.
However, the loss of Russia’s superpower status was accompanied by a loss of interest.
Similarly, the popularity of Japanese despite a small number of speakers has more to do with brand “Japanese” and Japan’s success story in the last century.
Germany remains the powerhouse of Europe.
On the other hand, some French-speaking countries such as France, Canada, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Belgium have a strong economy and influence in various sectors.
You can explore a lot of employment that requires French skills.
Spanish and South and Central American economies are doing ok but nowhere like German-speaking regions or Francophone countries.
Argentina and Mexico are two important Hispanic countries.
However, it does not offer enough career scope involving Spanish for Indians.
Spanish is the second most popular language in the USA, but that does not mean it is mandatory to learn.
Most Americans in the southern part do speak two languages, including English.
Conclusion: This is an important reason. Think about languages and where it is beneficial, power status, economic conditions. Give 20% weightage.
5.Which one do you prefer, or your interest lies? French or Spanish or German?
For many people, some languages are just plain intriguing.
If you are interested in a particular one, for whatever reason, that is probably the best choice. In short, learn the language you like.
Those who take other than their preferred tongue tend to do less well than their chosen language.
Conclusion: It is one of the two most important reasons. Give 25% weightage.
If you don’t have an interest, find it. If you cannot find it, it might not be worth learning. Well, you can trust me on that.
If you want to learn, Whatever your reason – as long as you have a reason – you’re more likely to reach your language goals.
Final Thought
Knowing what language to learn is the key to making a success out of your effort, provided you aim to make a career out of your knowledge of a foreign language.
With either one or two of them mentioned earlier, the sky will be your limit in becoming a highly placed and successful multilingual individual.
If you don’t feel motivated to learn a particular language, you will likely stop before perceiving any potential benefits.
You should ask yourself: “Why do I want to learn French or Spanish or German?”
Don’t learn without any reason. If you don’t have anything specific in mind, consider the two most important criteria, i.e., 2 and 5.
Read, think, and choose between French or Spanish, or German.
Disclaimer: This article reflects my personal opinion based on my knowledge, experience, and interaction. Since I have studied all three languages at different levels, I don’t have any personal preferences or biased views. On the contrary, I consider all equally good.
Looking for online language career counselling that can change your life for the better?Check out → Career Guidance
Vikash Gupta
I’m a linguist, lifelong learner, blogger, and fun-loving guy. I write at studyfrenchspanish.com, languagenext.com, joyofkorean.com, joyofchinese.com, and joyofjapanese.com.
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128 comments
Hello sir.. I want to do diploma in German language. Could you tell me about admission process and fees structure?
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Before Diploma, you have to pursue certificate courses if you intend to study from a college. Government college fee is pretty affordable. Alternatively, you can consider private institutes for better fast-track courses, though it might cost more.
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Hi, l am learning the French language.
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Hello Vikash,
How have you learned the foreign language? It seems you have a good understanding of languages. I would like to have you as a guest speaker at my Language institute. Please let me know if you would like to come (Online only)
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Send me more details, including institute name, etc. through Contact
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Spanish language is very powerful.
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Hello Sir,
Sir, I’m interested in pursuing my career in french. If you know, IFS (Indian Foreign Service Officers) also get their language training. If you have any idea, could you please share like what would be the probable qualification if the language trainees of these ifs officers? Can I consider they must have done something like C1 taken in specific French?
Thank you so much, sirReply
First, you need to crack the civil services exam with a great ranking, then you get an IFS (Indian Foreign Services). During the training, every selected officer has to learn a foreign language. They call it Compulsory Foreign Language or CFL training.
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Sir, I’m in the research field, which language is best to learn career-wise? Kindly advise. It is a matter of my whole life.
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There is no best language. The choice depends on your interest, objective, and understanding.
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Nice overview. I’m going for Spanish since my French is OK, my German is beginner level, but Spanish… Oh my. I’m using Duolingo (free version) and it seems to give me a serious boost in competing with others. Serious flaw though: there is no possible interaction, in any way, with other students. They deleted the forum part. Pity.
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My daughter is interested in pursuing a career in a foreign language especially in German though she is appearing in her 12 with PCB. Is it the right career option?
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Yes, German is a great language for career advancement.
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Sir, I have done a 3-year diploma course in electrical engineering and I am not able to decide that learning which of the foreign languages will be good for my career. Should I consider German here in this condition?
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German is also a good choice!
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Hello sir,
I’m a B.tech graduate in Biotechnology. I wish to learn german for continuing my further studies abroad. Can you suggest some institutes other than Goethe Institute in Delhi?Reply
You can consider Language Pantheon, The German Language School, and the German Language Circle in Rohini.
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I want to learn German language.
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Find any teacher, or join any good learning center. Wish you all the best 🙂
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Seems like a bit biased to SPANISH over others. ‘In my opinion’
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This article provides various possibilities, and one has to pick depending on their subjective circ*mstances and scenarios. So, choices will vary from one person to another.
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Hello Sir!
Sir could you please give me an idea as to what is the qualification of the educators of Alliance Française? I am aware that it’s a good place to learn French but was just a little concerned and keen to know that.Reply
They all are well-qualified and certified. In most cases, they have either done Masters in French or DALF C2 followed by teachers’ training.
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Sir, I just want to know is it meaningful to learn Spanish and German (at the same time) because of the fact I want myself to grasp “Messi’s” and clubs manager interview all by myself. I’m in 11th, have chosen science (PCMB) Would it be practically impossible for me to continue with it along with Spanish and German. (It may sound a bit stupid though) Considering all these, how long it can take me to understand it by reading and listening.
If I would give it an hour of my day.
Waiting for your descriptive reply.Reply
You can, but it is better to focus on one language at a time. Giving undivided attention is the right approach, especially when you have plenty of other subjects to study.
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Growing up in northwestern Wisconsin, I took a few years of high school French and took beginning French in my freshman year in college to get an easy A. I never went to Quebec, much less France. About 14 years ago, I moved to the suburbs of Houston, Texas and now I’m planning to retire in El Paso. Spanish would have been nice here in the Houston area, but it’s nearly a must in El Paso. I will be breaking out the Spanish learning CDs for the next 5 months, while my new home is being built.
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I’m glad you’re learning Spanish. Happy learning!
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Sir could please tell me the duration of the undergraduate french program if we do it from du as it is different on different sites. Also, sir what is your review about the department of German and Romance studies, du for French ba, ma?
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BA is of 3 years, and MA for 2 years. GRS dept is a good choice for the degree courses in French.
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Hello Sir,
I am planning to take French. (ba, ma, and maybe Ph.D. as well). My concern is that will graduate and undergraduate programs in French as a foreign language (eg: India and many more) will be different if one does graduate and undergraduate in French as a native language? (If one does it from France or Canada etc.).Reply
Not much other than getting into immersion settings. Indian universities are well recognized worldwide and offer top-notch education and research in French.
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Dear Sir,
I am an aspirant to study for my master’s in Development Studies from the UK’s top universities. I have 5 years of experience in the Development/Social sector of India. I wish to continue the same passion in the same field post my master’s. Which language do you suggest among French and Spanish is best to learn for bright future career prospects in the development sector worldwide?
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I wish there was an easy answer. Both are beneficial in your field. You can consider some subjective reasons too like Spanish is a bit easier. In contrast, the French will be more useful in Europe.
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Hi,
I have to assist my daughter to chose a second language from 5th grade and she will commence her 5th grade from June-2021. Options given for second languages are Sanskrit, French, and German. She may be interested more in more technical filed like Software, aeronautics, or maybe interior designing however it is too early but yes wish to send her out of India for higher education.
I would like to know which language to choose based on the criteria:-
1) Would help her to develop her cognitive learning, IQ
2) Out of the given three options which could be easy and scoring starting from grade 5th to grade 8th grade.Please could you share your thoughts?
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1) All 3 languages can help improve her memory, learning approaches, and IQ. In fact, all languages are beneficial from that perspective.
2) Both German and French have similar difficulty levels.Both languages are valuable for technical studies and study abroad. I know it doesn’t answer your question, but I don’t recommend any particular language unless the goal is specific and clear. Whatever you pick, I doubt you will regret it later as both are useful.
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Sir, Choose a language according to our Foreign Direct Investment in India and be careful of Gender classification in the European language. French and Spanish got two Gender. German got 3 Gender. Ex: In French, Gender applies to nouns, adjectives, and adverbs. My choice is Japanese, the difficult part is 2136 Kanjis. Since your child is doing FIFTH grade, she can finish at least half of the kanjis by 12th grade, which is equivalent to the N2 level in Japanese. N2 level enough to get a job in India.
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Hello Sir.
I am currently in class 11 and is looking forward to doing my undergraduate in french from Department of Romanic and Germanic Studies, Delhi university. (after my class 12). Sir, just wanted to ask I have studied french only till class 10 and I have no other experience in learning french like delf or any other certification. At what level will this french undergraduate programme start from? Will it be from a very advanced french or from the very basic one, taking in my end that one has no background in french and 1 st aim is to make the student understand the language followed by other related subjects which are part of the undergraduate programme.I hope you understand my situation. Please guide me sir.
Thank you.Reply
You don’t need to worry at all as BA in French starts from scratch. You don’t need any previous knowledge of French.
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Thank you so much sir.
Can’t even express how much relieved I am from this. Thanks once again.😊Reply
I’m glad I was able to help 🙂
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Hello Sir,
Thank you for your informative articles. Currently, I am pursuing MBA in Mumbai but the specialization is yet to be selected. I am a commerce graduate but moreover interested in the german language and have completed B1 from Goethe institute. Kindly suggest to me which specialization has more opportunities or would be best for me so that I’ll be able to use both language knowledge and MBA skills.Reply
I have already replied to your same question last time.
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I want to learn a new language but I am confused among the above three languages. I want to learn a language that will be most useful for my career. I want to go to areas like Switzerland, etc. for the job. Which language will be more helpful? And if not in Europe, a country which language will be best for me to find jobs in India? Please help sir I am totally confused.
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Unfortunately, no “one” language would be more helpful in all scenarios. If there was one, I could not have written this article in the first place. I’d suggest reading lots of language-related things, and hopefully, sooner or later, you will make a decision that will suit you.
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Hello Sir,
I’m based out of Bangalore. Would you be able to recommend an institution for taking German language classes apart from Goethe max Muller in Bangalore? From your experience, how much time one needs to learn/train till B1 level. Considering the fact that this is my first foreign language learning experience. Thank you much for this brilliant blog.
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You can check some of the private institutes in Bangalore like Inlingua, IFLaC, and FluenC. But none of these will be as authoritative as Goethe-Institut. The duration will vary between 12 months to 24 months, depending on your learning approach.
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Do you have any recommended European Spanish resources for learning, reading, practices such as flashcards, and especially listening? I tried to find some, but I ended up finding French a lot.
Also, do you have any recommended European Spanish singers and as well as free/mostly free Spanish book site for reading?
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You can try Anki. It is completely free and one of the best flashcard tool. There are plenty of Spanish decks. You can consider an app “Lirica.” It helps you learn and improve Spanish, including the European ones, through tons of Spanish songs.
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Sir,
Thank you for this article, and the adjoining one on learning the language you love. They’re very interesting, and they cleared up some things for me.
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I’m glad it helped you, Kristine. 🙂
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Hello sir
Sir, I am a passed out student of class 12 with pcm and I want a job in an embassy. Sir, I want to ask you that which language out of French, Spanish and German will be beneficial.Reply
All three are fine, though getting an embassy job solely based on language is difficult.
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Unlike others, I had a lot of confusion regarding language, like which one to learn, but thanks to you, sir, for giving so many knowledgeable guidelines. Thank you so much. Is it beneficial to learn German or any language from an institute that we can learn from a private tutor?
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Both options are ok, but the institute would be better to allow you to participate in group discussion and practice. Also, it would be more cost-effective.
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Thank you for your detailed analysis.
Sir, I am in IT and my wife is a Homeopath. We both are learning German. Any thoughts of if German can help pursue a Homeopathy career then after in Germany for my wife?
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I don’t have much knowledge about this field.
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Dear Sir
I wish to make my children learn a Foreign language. Out of French, Spanish, and German, I have enrolled my daughter in French, to begin with. I still am clueless as to which language is going to be vital for career progression and in what way for me to envisage. Can you please recommend & align my thought process or questioning ability as to other than French should I make the kid learn any one of the balance 2?
Why or why not.
TxReply
All the pros associated with these three languages are mentioned in this article. Since all three are equally good, thus, it all boils down to career goal, interest, and destination. You can read and make an informed decision. Whatever you choose, I doubt you’ll regret it in the future. Good luck!
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Hello sir.
I have just completed my 12th, and I am seeking admission to BA Hons in the Spanish language. I have not studied this language before. I am a commerce student. I studied English, Business Studies, Hindi, Accountacy, eco, physical education as an additional subject. So, I want to ask which subject I can consider for the best four percentages?Reply
For UG in Spanish, you don’t need any previous knowledge. The program starts from scratch. In your case, the best 4 are English core, Business studies, Accountacy, and Economics.
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Hey sir
I want to learn any language, from the embassy only. So can you please tell me which foreign language is cheapest.Reply
Not all embassies affiliated cultural centers offer language courses. The fee for Russian and Portuguese are comparatively less compared to other programs.
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English.
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If you’re looking for embassy associated course, then you can try the British council.
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Sir, I am pursuing the IT field. If I want to go to an overseas country in Europe which language will be best? French/Spanish/German?
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All three are fine, though French and German are more useful in Europe.
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Dear Sir,
I’m pursuing a BA in Arabic as a foreign language from JNU. I’m a first-year student. Since there is a huge competition and having a Bachelor’s degree in a particular language isn’t enough to get a job easily. I want to have an additional degree, either certificate or Bachelors’s from the Distance learning program of IGNOU. I’d really appreciate it if you’d provide me some guidance about which course I shall enroll as a Distance learning program to enhance my skills and have a better chance of getting a job. Thank you.Reply
Distance learning doesn’t add significant value on c.V. Perhaps, after BA, you can pursue an MA in Arabic or any in-demand master’s degree.
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Hello sir. I’m currently studying the basic course of German (A1). Would it be sufficient in improving my chances of working for or collaborating with German science institutions while living in India, or should I learn further till like B1?
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A1 won’t be sufficient. Aim for at least B1, if not B2.
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Sir, I am currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Information Technology). After that, I want to do my master’s (hopefully with a scholarship) in a foreign country. For this reason which language do you suggest?
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Learn the language of the country where you are planning to do masters. French, German, and Japanese are usually popular among Engineers.
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Hi,
I started learning German, and everything was going fine until variations of ‘Der Die Das’ arrived. I completed the Goethe B1 Certificate, and I don’t find any problem with the German language, but because of ‘Der Die Das’, I feel so disappointed & frustrated. I feel like I will never be able to command ‘Der Die Das.’ I spent a lot of time & money on learning German till now. Now I feel like giving up learning German because of ‘Der Die Das,’ and I also think that I made a wrong choice after reading everywhere that Spanish is the easiest language to learn. I feel like I will never be able to command ‘Der Die Das Den Dem.’
What should I do? Should I continue with the German language with all this frustration around ‘Der Die Das’ OR should I start all over again with the Spanish language (I have 0 knowledge of Spanish)?
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I faced similar problems when I was learning German at the Goethe-Institut several years back. German cases have a reputation for being notoriously tricky for English speakers. Nearly every German learner face this grammatical problem. I’d advise you to continue with German only, and find a teacher who can help you understand different types of German cases. With the right method, I’m sure you will learn it correctly. Viel Glück!
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Actually, I’ve seen your blog many times. I’m currently an engineering student with CSE as my branch. I’m hoping for learning French for my job prospects in the future but I read some answers on Quora which suggested that French isn’t good for engineers. They suggested that English, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese are good. I wanna know if it’s true, which languages are good for the job prospects of an Indian engineer? Also, I’m hoping to go with European languages only. I wanna know your opinion as you’re experienced enough about it.
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French is as valuable as other popular languages like German, English, Spanish, and Mandarin. It all depends where you’re working, and what kind of projects/ clients you’re dealing with. The best language for someone working in a French company will differ from the one is dealing with China or the South America market. In other words, from the perspective of a learner, you must look at your reasons and plans.
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You certainly understand what you’re referring to, thanks for the info.
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For the purpose of the law, which language should I choose?
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There is no specific language that matches suitably with law. If you’ve any particular reason/goal or interest, then choose accordingly. Otherwise, make a decision based on your understanding.
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Hi sir, I’m in B.Com 2nd year. I want a job in MNC through learning a language. Can you please tell me which one to choose German? Spanish? French? Tell me one for the job purpose for a better future.
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Since all three are equally valuable for the career, thus, it would be challenging for me to suggest any particular one. You can consider all the factors before making an informed conclusion. Whatever you choose, you won’t regret it.
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Sir, I am 40 years old. Can I join a foreign language in O.U.? What is the eligibility criteria or any entrance test? Who to contact?
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What is O.U.? Osmania University? You can contact the University directly. The Arts faculty offers short-term courses in Arabic, French, German, Persian, and Russian.
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I am an ayurvedic physician, experienced in yoga – alternative medicines but I am working in allopathy medicine based clinical research too. I want to explore options for myself either in Ayurveda/alternative medicine or clinical research in Europe. Given this background, could you suggest to me which language should I learn German vs Spanish vs French?
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That will depend on your destination. Plus, a language may not be the deciding factor as per your expertise. You can pick between French or German.
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Sir,
I am a commerce graduate student. I have done my C2 in German, but unable to decide what to do next to get a job in a foreign country. Can you guide me, please? I am interested in an MBA, but I think you can guide me well.Reply
MBA is a good option. You can contact any overseas education consultant.
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I have started learning French like about three days and about 2 hours in a day. And by now, I can read any books (but without understanding even 5 percent of each text), and I am working so hard on it, as I truly enjoy it. Now my question is, how long it will take this way that I am going, learn, write, speak, and analyze French?
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Difficult to say since there are too many variables. But usually, it takes 3 to 5 years to reach advanced competency so that you can speak, listen, read, and write like near-native. You can achieve the same in less time if you’re following an immersion learning approach.
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My 8 years old is a voracious reader. Her English language skills are much beyond her age. She needs to choose between Eng / Spanish / German in school. What would be the right choice for her?
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There is no right language, and all are equally good. You can pick whatever you wish.
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Sir, I am pursuing B.Sc (H) Mathematics and I am learning Spanish. I want to make a career in Spanish but I am confused about the career options through the Spanish language. Please enlighten me.
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Read — Career in Spanish.
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I just started learning German. I fell in love with it. It’s a bit hard but beautiful and useful.
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Viel Glück 🙂
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I have big confusion between Spanish & German, I have done Diploma in civil engineering, but I am working in BPO. I like Germany as it is beautiful and the powerhouse of Europe. So which is best according to my profession and career opportunities in different fields. Which gives the best results in India and Internationally?
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The best result does not depend on language, but your engagement with the language and how you plan to utilize it. While both languages are equally important, you can pick either one. The best is the one you like or one that appeals to you in so many ways. Thus, German maybe the right choice for you!
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Hi
I am required to pick a language between Spanish and German in my school. I intend to study biomedical engineering, so I think german will be more useful. But in my country, the educational system is so tough, and I want to prepare for the sat and do my extracurricular activities, so I don’t have time.Reply
Whatever you choose, you won’t regret in future. I wish you all the best for future endeavours Kenza.
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Sir, I have recently completed B.ED. Which language should I choose? If I select Australia for my further education which language will be beneficial, I am perplexed!
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English is the de facto and primary language of Australia. Thus, there is no compulsion to learn a new language. Maybe you can try to practice some Australian accent. 🙂
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Hello. I want to know something with my honesty. Will, both Spanish and French, will have some use other than India (+Latin America/Spain/America, France/Africa)? I am living in Asia, and I am worried that my Spanish could be useless here since everyone here both the businesses and people seems to go for Japanese, Chinese, or Korean mostly. I am not sure since other than being a translator; I don’t really know what to use them for other than entertainment purposes or basic internet communication. And I am just an English major student too. 🙁
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Well, in East Asian or South-East countries, Japanese, Mandarin, or Chinese are far more popular than European Languages. Having said that, French, Spanish, and German play a vital role in the international stage. As far as employment possibilities are concerned, other than apparent translators, interpreters, content writer, and teachers, there are opportunities in Export-Import industry, MNC with global footprints, Outsourcing sector, EFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language in Non-English speaking countries), Travel & Tourism, Embassies & Consulates, and many more.
Spanish is essential in South and Central America (except Brazil) whereas French is de-facto language in Quebec (Canada), North and Central Africa, and parts of Europe (France and neighbors).
Globalization has had a dramatic impact on languages and the way people learn it. In my 14 years of small career, I never found a single disadvantage.
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As a French teacher at the age of 52, I gave this topic some thought. I am currently staying with a good friend with whom I went to graduate school. We were both surprised by the results. I teach high school and find French and Spanish come out as a “wash.” French seems harder at the beginning because it is not phonetic while Spanish is. However, by the third year, Spanish grammar is much more difficult than French grammar as Spanish uses the subjunctive in several different ways. By comparison, the French use it very little. Of course, I can say this statement as at 52; I am looking back and reflecting on what was difficult.
My friend and I both took German and found it much more complicated than French. There are many English words in French. Even though English is Germanic many of the Germanic vocabulary went away a long time ago. Example: I would like to tell you a story.=Ich möchte Ihnen eine Geschichte erzählen. NONE of those words resemble English. For me, the vocabulary was the most difficult aspect of German. I also have read in articles where reaching a level of fluency for the Latin based languages is 4 years versus 6 years for German. Perhaps, much of the outcome has to do with what one’s first language base is. For me, English is my first language, and French is definitely my 2nd with German coming in at a very distant 3rd. I like your blog as no one with whom I work with has any interest in this kind of discussion. 🙂
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I totally agree with you, Mr. Shane. This is precisely how I feel and always convey the same to all my students. I believe French pronunciation is tricky at an initial stage, but once you cross that hurdle, it is as simple or complicated as Spanish or German. Spanish vocabulary and el subjuntivo are enormous with too many exceptions and expressions, and German, well confusing especially the case system, compound words, and variants of Swiss German!
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Dear Vikash, Thanks for writing such a detailed and elaborate post on the choice of language. I have a query, my daughter is 6 years old and she studies in an IB curriculum school in India. I am required to give my choice of language between Spanish and French. At this early age, I really don’t know where she will work but I am sure she will go abroad for her graduation by giving SAT exam. Could you please advice what language should I choose for my daughter.
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Since the target destination and objectives are unknown. Thus, it is tough to suggest anything meaningful. Between French and Spanish, She can pick French since it is more useful than Spanish in Europe.
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I am seeking for Swedish language college’s but here is not available so pls tell me if I learn the German language how I enrolled in DU?
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You can select a few Colleges offering German courses and apply when forms will be available in the next few days. The admission is done on the basis of marks obtained in 12th. You have to track the website for individual DU Colleges. You can browse the list of Colleges at Learn German in Delhi.
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Sir, I am pursuing literature and want to learn a foreign language but I am confused between German and French. I want to pursue MBA from Europe. Which language would benefit the most?
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That will depend on the target destination. For example, German is useful in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland whereas French will be an added advantage in France and Belgium. In the remaining part of Europe, English or/and country-specific language matters. So it depends!
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As an American who has learned and speaks Spanish, French and German at a native speaker level of fluency I would have to say: Spanish is the easier of the 3 for an English speaker. I would actually recommend learning it first. Not only will you learn how you personally learn foreign languages but it will give you valuable understandings of language and grammatical framework that you will need later.
French, although phonetically challenging, is MUCH easier than German. Further, grammatically French and Spanish are quite similar. German is a completely different animal. For starters, it requires a very firm understanding of grammar. The nouns cases are a nightmare. But it is still quite do-able, although I would not recommend it as a beginning foreign language. Nonetheless, I always found it easier to verbally comprehend then both French and Spanish. Phonetically I would say it is the closest of the 3 to English.
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Thanks for your opinion, Chris. You made a lot of valid points. I concur with you.
My view is Spanish is lengthy especially the vocabulary part but not difficult. Speaking part is pretty easy though listening depends on the dialects. It took me some time to get used to a variety of accents when I was talking to a few friends in different parts of Colombia and Mexico. French pronunciation is quite hard and sometimes tricky as well though written is okay. German grammar, on the other hand, is really complicated and never-ending rules. As Oscar Wilde said, “Life is too short to learn German”. I think it is valid for French too if you’re not a native speaker. Language learning is a quite subjective thing and the views vary greatly from one person to another.
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Thanks for the great article. Being a candidate targeting business shools in Europe, which would be the most preferred and beneficial language to learn?
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If the target country is Germany or Austria, then pick German otherwise French!
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Sir, m pursuing psychology and i am still confused between these German and French. Sir please help me to choose.
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Both are popular and choosing either one is fine and quite subjective. French is spoken in over 30 countries and plays plays a major role on international stage. Thus, it has an edge over German but this should not be the only criteria to pick French.
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Sir i am pursuing MBA in marketing. Sir plz help me to choose that for which language i should go.
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In the marketing field, French and Spanish are two popular choices between 3. French offers more opportunities, whereas Spanish is relatively more straightforward.
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Thank you so much for the suggestions, it was very helpful to me. I was really confused to pick between Spanish and German as which one would be more useful for my career. I had a thing for German from a long time even though it’s difficult to learn in comparison to Spanish. I used to think that Spanish has much more scope for digital/Online marketing jobs as it is one of the widely spoken languages in the world. But now I think I was wrong and I am glad. Thank you so much again.
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You’re welcome, i am happy this article have helped you 🙂
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Sir i wanna know about the Highest paying jobs in Spanish language can you please provide me appropriate data related to this i would be really thankful to you.
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It will be difficult to find such data. It won’t be accurate even if it exists.
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Sir this was really good. I’m learning Spanish and i feel really motivated by you article thank you so much for providing this precious knowledge about the languages.
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Thank you Akanksha for your kind words 🙂
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This blog was really very helpful to me sir. Thanks for writing this. Sir, even after going through this whole blog I’m still confused to choose one from them. Currently I’m pursuing my graduation in BCOM and further I want to go for MBA. I’m still suspecting to choose the best suited language for my career. Because my future MBA specialisation is not confirmed yet, it’s the only reason that I’m still fumbling around.
Sir, I’ll always be obliged to you, if you’ll help me in it. Because I’m feeling so helpless.
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Choosing between French, German, and Spanish is similar to an MBA in Finance, HR, or Marketing. Like MBA specialization, All three languages serve different purposes and equally great. If you plan to immigrate to Canada, your language choice will be different from if you get any job in German powerhouses or Jobs in the USA.
Without any specific aim, it is challenging to suggest anyone. If you just want to learn a foreign language that will enhance your CV and MBA degree, you can learn French.
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Thank you for you suggestion sir……
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