Language: the key to discovering culture
There seems to be a bit of conflicting data regarding what the top ten most spoken languages are in the world. This confusion is due to the fact that it can be difficult to determine exactly what a 'speaker' is. Is a speaker only someone who speaks a language as their first language? Does someone who can say "hola, cómo estás?" qualify as a Spanish speaker? Where do we draw the line? How do we count? Nevertheless, the available data suggests that Mandarin Chinese is the most widely spoken language in the world. Depending on the source, usually English, Spanish and Hindi rank second, third and fourth, respectively. French, Portuguese, Russian and Arabic are also in the top ten.
Many non-native speakers choose to study the top languages based on these numbers and rankings. For example, because English is such a powerful language, millions of non-native speakers flock to the UK, seek teachers and do whatever they can to learn English. To do business or work in the UK or the US, strong English skills are not only important but necessary. And it certainly makes things a lot easier on native English speakers. The problem is that many languages outside the top ten - or even those other than English - are often neglected and brushed aside. If we can't understand a country's language, we lose so much of what that unique culture has to offer. If we learn French France is a completely different place than if we go to France and wait for everyone to respond to us in English.
So if we take advantage of good French courses France offers endless, amazing experiences, which can only be fully appreciated if we communicate in the language. The same is true for many other places. In Ireland, although the main language spoken is English, Irish is the national and first official language and is still spoken on many parts of the island. If English is not your native language, continue to study it. If you can, learn Mandarin Chinese - it will open many doors and opportunities for you. Just don't forget about the thousands of languages in the world and the exciting experiences they could have in store for you.
