Which language should I pick next semester?

[Chundles]

Spanish is the way to go.

Well, maybe in the US but considering our tourism and trade focus in Australia and the make up of our population, Japanese would be by far the more practical.

 

[bousozoku]

Actually, this is still a matter of some controversy. Linguists are evenly split between considering Korean a language isolate or rather part of an "Altaic" language family with Central Asian origin.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_language

Yet, in my own pursuits, I'm finding some commonality with Hungarian. I have no background in Mongolian but considering that the two languages meet in places suggests that there was more than just coincidence. After all, Hungarian also draws some Persian into it, which might overshadow anything else.

 

[gadgetgirl85]

Yet, in my own pursuits, I'm finding some commonality with Hungarian. I have no background in Mongolian but considering that the two languages meet in places suggests that there was more than just coincidence. After all, Hungarian also draws some Persian into it, which might overshadow anything else.

Hungarian is an absolute cow to learn trust me I know. My folks are Hungarian so I hear it a lot at home. I don't speak much but understand most of it

 

[Sesshi]

I'd say Chinese. It's not easy to learn but it's quite rewarding to be able to speak properly.

 

[elppa]

I personally would go with French.

Rationally Spanish would be a better choice.

 

[bousozoku]

Hungarian is an absolute cow to learn trust me I know. My folks are Hungarian so I hear it a lot at home. I don't speak much but understand most of it

Isten! It's an interesting language and, having come from both eastern and western languages, I find the vocabulary comforting mostly. Of course, I don't use it much but growing up around it, I can swear in it quite well. 😀

 

[tjcampbell]

I am learning Mandarin right now. Once you learn the four tones it gets pretty easy. Skype rocks for learning languages. It's a fortune to get one on one lessons in person, but I do all mine on skype for very little money. We both use our iSights. It's pretty cool stuff.

 

[Mammoth]

I'd say Chinese. It's not easy to learn but it's quite rewarding to be able to speak properly.

And you'll be able to speak to another billion people. Just make sure you learn simplified characters because traditional is a real pain. And do they teach Mandarin or Cantonese?

 

[bousozoku]

And you'll be able to speak to another billion people. Just make sure you learn simplified characters because traditional is a real pain. And do they teach Mandarin or Cantonese?

Traditional characters aren't a pain--the simplified are. Remember, if you only learn the simplified, you're somewhat limited in reading anything more than 30 years old and you'll have trouble in countries other than mainland China.

 

[BigPrince]

Not to hijack, but anyone feel that Arabic is worth learning?

 

[Film Divine]

Since you're in Australia, I'd say the most practical would be French due to their influence in your neck of the woods (relative to the U.S.).🙂

Not to hijack, but anyone feel that Arabic is worth learning?

Depends on what your goals are. If you'd like a job in the government, they'd love to have you. If you were going to study Arabic, I'd recommend learning Farsi as well.