Top 5 Foreign Languages to Learn in India

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We all know why it is important to have knowledge of foreign languages. To be precise, it’s for better job opportunities and having bragging rights. But which ones to go for? There are dozens of languages to choose from and mastering even one takes a lot of time, effort and practice.
Another point is that if your main reason of picking up another language is related to work, it is considered best to pick one that is majorly spoken in that specific region. So if you are planning to mainly work in India, it might be better to go for major regional languages like Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Marathi, Kannada etc. than picking up a language of foreign country.

But here’s the thing- Indian market is turning increasingly global and many international corporations have already become an established part of the country’s job market. Having to interact with people of multiple nationalities is also a part of this process and while we have English as the global language, talking to someone in their native language will always earn you extra points.
Which brings us to our topic of the day- which foreign languages apart from English should you go for? Here are (in no particular order) the top 5 –

MANDARIN

Most widely spoken language in the world is also one of the most useful to learn despite being really tough to excel in as a non-native. China is an economic giant no doubt and much of business is conducted with it. A lot of big companies are primarily Chinese as well and so being able to communicate in the language opens up dozens of opportunities for you. And these are not limited to Corporate or Government jobs only but cover many more areas like trade and education.

GERMAN

It’s the official language of more than a couple of European nations including Germany, Austria and Switzerland. All of these countries have good economy and excellent lifestyle. So learning German can open a way for you to make a life in some of the most progressive European nations. Even if you are planning to work only in India, learning this language is still useful. The reason is that many German companies like BMW and Volkswagen are well-established in the subcontinent. And it is especially beneficial in fields like Automobile, Engineering and Scientific research, no matter where you are.

JAPANESE

Japan is a giant when it comes to technology and innovation and the past decade has seen growing relationship between India and the island nation. Since it is fairly hard to master Japanese language, it makes it all the more worthwhile as you get access to major opportunities with relatively less competition.

So if you are looking to make a career in Technology, corporate and Education sector, going for Japanese can be wise. Also, you can use of your knowledge of the language in working for the government as translator/interpreter and also in print media (dozens of translating jobs both for web and traditional publishing).

FRENCH

This is one of the most popular foreign languages in India and a lot of schools and colleges offer it as a part of their curriculum. Especially in hospitality sector, French holds a very important place. No matter what job you hold in the service sector, you must have knowledge of some basic French terms used on a daily basis.

Apart from hospitality and service industry, French is mighty useful in corporate sector too. It is one of the top 5 most spoken languages in the world, being used in over 30 countries, so learning French has huge benefits if you are going for a career in fashion, education, travel, retail, import/export and even finance.

SPANISH

The second-most spoken language in USA after American English, one of the most widely spoken languages across the globe with at least 20 nations and the increasing presence of companies from Hispanic nations in the country- all these are reasons to go for Spanish if you are mulling over choosing a foreign language to learn. Apart from Education and Corporate sector, Spanish can also prove useful while working in Journalism, Translation or any media service really, also in Tourism and Hospitality sectors.