Top 10 Most Useful Languages You Should Learn in 2024

Explore new cultures, deepen connections, and enrich your life by diving into our guide on the most useful languages to learn in 2023.

Some people choose to learn a new language to embrace the culture when visiting another country, while others may be required to do it for work. There are also many people who choose to learn a new language simply for fun! Learning a new language can be an exciting and rewarding journey, which is why it’s important to choose the right one for you to ensure that you get the most out of the experience. 

To help you decide, we’re exploring the top 10 languages to learn in 2023 and the opportunities that could be available as a result of being bilingual . 

Interested in learning a Romance language? Consider French. As the official language of 29 countries including Canada and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, learning French can take you much further than France itself. With an estimated 320 million French speakers worldwide, you can join roughly 3.6% of the world’s population with knowledge of an extremely popular language. 

However, if you do have a fascination with all things French – be it art, film, literature, food or fashion – learning French as your next language is sure to help you enjoy France’s fascinating culture even more. As a bonus, English shares many similar words and phrases with French too – think omelette, bouquet, and faux pas – so you’re sure to pick up the basics quickly.

Whatever your reason for learning Frech, you can find a beginners French course that's perfect for you with City Lit.

The Benefits of Learning French to Work Internationally

Being able to speak French can be extremely useful, affording you the ease of comfortably conversing with locals when visiting France or French-speaking countries, for example. But it isn’t just social visits in which knowing French can be useful, nor can it only be utilised when in France.
For those who are looking to work internationally, being able to speak the native language can be extremely beneficial and, in some cases, essential. As there are many countries which use French as their first language, you’ll also have the freedom to work in different territories and enjoy the full advantage of your multilingual ability.
Whilst your chosen profession is personal to you, you may be interested to know some of the countries in which you could work and utilise your fluency in French. 
The list of countries includes:

• Belgium
• Canada
• The Ivory Coast
• Switzerland
• Senegal
• Togo
• Cameroon

You might not realise it, but you probably know a few Hindi words already. Words like shampoo, khaki, bungalow and bangle all share Hindi origins, and it's actually the third most spoken language in the world.

With its fascinating and unique culture, studying Hindi is guaranteed to be a rewarding journey. Many of the Hindi courses here at City Lit will teach you about cultural differences too, so you can feel confident when travelling to India.

Knowing how to speak Hindi can help when learning other languages 

Hindi could be considered a gateway language, or at least a stepping stone to learning other languages within the Indo-Iranian language group, which includes Bengali, Punjabi, Nepali and Sanskrit. As these languages share many similarities, having a written and spoken understanding of Hindi can help you excel when exploring these other languages and fast-track you to becoming multi-lingual. 

Not to be overlooked, Arabic is the fifth most spoken language in the world and one of the oldest, dating back to the 8th century. Over 400 million people speak Arabic, particularly those living in locations in the Arabian Peninsula, North Africa, and the Middle East.

When reading or writing in Arabic, it's important to begin on the right and end on the left. There are around 30 variations and dialects of Arabic, including MSA (Modern Standard Arabic) used for writing and formal speech, and Classical Arabic which was used to create the Qur'an.

Discover more about Arabic, and immerse yourself in both the language and culture, with our Arabic courses at City Lit.

Arabic will allow you to embrace a unique part of the world.

As European languages such as French, Spanish and German are often favoured in school curriculum, there is often little opportunity for budding students to form connections with countries in different parts of the world. Arabic is spoken across 20 countries within the Middle East, meaning that whether you’re visiting for business or pleasure, you’ll be able to enjoy a smooth transition into local culture.

Some of the most popular holiday destinations within the Middle East include:

• Turkey
• Saudi Arabia
• Qatar
• United Arab Emirates

Tied with China for having the most World Heritage Sites, Italy is a beautiful country that becomes even more alluring when you understand its native tongue. Always a popular language with learners, Italian is relatively easy to grasp – particularly if you’re familiar with other Romance languages. 

From Venice to Rome and Pisa, start exploring the wonders of Italy with our range of Italian courses today.

Learning Italian is quintessential for art & culture enthusiasts.

Italy is regarded as one of the most culturally rich countries in the world, with its deep history openly showcased in stunning architecture and famous artworks. Being able to speak, read and write Italian can make for a far more fruitful experience when exploring the many gems on offer in the country, whether it's the Colosseum in Rome or the David of Michelangelo in Florence.

With more than 400 million native speakers and ranking fourth on the list of most spoken languages in the world, there are so many reasons to learn Spanish! It's a particularly great choice if you love travelling; Spanish is the official language of 20 countries across the globe, including Mexico, Chile, Costa Rica and Argentina. 

One of five Romance languages, you can start your journey today with City Lit. You'll find a number of different beginners' Spanish courses available, to suit all learning styles and speeds. It’s estimated to take around 24 to 30 weeks to become fluent in Spanish, however, this can depend entirely on how many hours per day you practice.

Learning Spanish can diversify your education 

Learning a second language not only allows you to speak another native tongue, but it will also encourage you to expand on your knowledge of your first language. This is typically due to the differences in structure, grammar and vocabulary between languages, which will naturally lead you to think much more deeply about how you articulate your sentences. 

When learning Spanish, there are many similarities to other Latinate languages, particularly in grammar that can help make learning to navigate the differences much easier. 

Germany has the largest economy in Europe. It’s extremely useful for international business purposes, but it’s a fantastic choice for travellers too – and the locals are sure to be impressed by your skills! Just make sure you watch out for the different dialects. 

Currently spoken by around 100 million people, you can start learning the basics today with German courses at City Lit. 

Which industries most commonly use the German language?

Two of the most important industries in Germany are the automotive and mechanical engineering industries, both of which offer excellent career paths. If you’re looking to explore work within these sectors, regardless of whether that would be in Germany or not, having a good understanding of the language which is deeply rooted in these industries can be a huge advantage. 

For some, it may not be the desire to work within these industries but simply the interest, as the automotive industry is, of course, a huge part of sports such as Formula 1. Whether you’re a Mercedes fan or sitting tight until Audi joins Formula 1 in 2026, being able to understand German can help you form a deeper affiliation with the sport.

Whether your goal is to watch anime without the subtitles, or you're determined to sound like a local in Tokyo, there's never been a better time to learn Japanese. In fact, we even have a dedicated blog post exploring why Japanese (and Korean) has become so popular over the past decade.  

Japanese is fairly difficult for native English speakers, but it's an extremely rewarding language for those who are passionate about Japan. We'll help you start from the very beginning, with affordable Japanese courses at City Lit.

Japanese is one of the most fun languages to learn.

Not only is Japanese a popular choice for those who want to really challenge themselves, but Japanese pop culture has also become increasingly more popular amongst the Western population. From comic books to anime, these forms of media are rife amongst people of all ages who to love to indulge fantasy worlds influenced by a completely different culture.

Did you know over 1 billion people can speak Chinese (Mandarin)? That roughly equates to a seventh of the entire global population. The second-most used language online, and a highly sought-after skill in business, there’s no doubt learning Mandarin can open a whole new world of opportunities to those who study it. 

While Chinese (Mandarin) has a reputation for being difficult – mostly thanks to its unique writing system – there’s no need to worry. When it comes to grammar and sentence structure, Mandarin is actually not that different from English. More people than ever before are learning Mandarin too – and if they can do it, so can you.

Discover Chinese (Mandarin) courses for all levels with City Lit.

Keep up with the shift in trade & commerce with Mandarin.

For a few years now it’s been well-known that Mandarin is giving the English language a run for its money as the preferred language for global business-related communication. While Mandarin is unlikely to surpass English as the outright favourite, it’s still incredibly relevant to those who move in these circles and could identify you as an ideal candidate should you have knowledge of the language.

Did you know that British Sign Language is an official, recognised language? Often referred to as BSL, understanding and being able to use British Sign Language can help you to successfully communicate with deaf, or hard of hearing, sign language users.

There's never been a better time to learn British Sign Language. The recent success of Rose Ayling-Ellis on Strictly Come Dancing 2021 touched and inspired millions of people up and down the country. Rose, 26, is deaf and a BSL user. She is best known for playing Frankie Lewis in Eastenders. Throughout her appearance on Strictly Come Dancing, Rose shone a light on attitudes towards disability and championed British Sign Language.

City Lit is home to the Centre for Deaf Education. Our teachers aim to make learning BSL as straightforward, and as enjoyable, as possible - explore our accessible British Sign Language courses.

Diversify your communication skills with British Sign Language 

Although BSL is classed as a language, it consists solely of visual elements. Understanding these visual gestures will allow you to communicate with those who are non-verbal or have hearing difficulties. BSL is used by roughly 151,000 in the UK and can open up career avenues such as an interpreter, educational support worker and social worker.

Another language that was propelled to new heights through television in 2021 is Korean. Not to mention the enthralling food, film and music emerging from the country, South Korean culture is fast taking over the world. South Korea is also growing into a key international business hub so there’s also a strong professional incentive to consider taking up Korean.

The Korean language is spoken by over 77 million people around the world. To put that in perspective, that’s only 1 million less than the number of people who speak German. London plays host to Europe’s largest Korean community – with the suburb of New Malden alone thought to be home to some 20,000 Koreans, just one of the reasons why Korean food and culture is particularly prevalent across the capital.

For foodies across UK, Korean cuisine continues to capture the imagination – with Korean barbecue meats, kimchi and bibimbap all popular national dishes available at restaurants across UK.

Korean pop culture is more popular than ever 

Much like with Japanese, South Korean pop culture is also being increasingly consumed by the Western world prompting many people to dig deeper into the language. Whilst there are many things from South Korea which we’re enjoying at this side of the world, South Korea is growing in popularity as a work and holiday destination.

In fact, there are many opportunities for people all around the world to live and work in South Korea with brilliant incentives such as paid accommodation. In which case, understanding Korean as a language will go an incredibly long way to making your transition into Korean culture much smoother.

At City Lit, we offer a range of Korean courses, ideal for those looking to start their language journey or for those looking to develop their skills to make them a confident speaker of the language.

In conclusion, our guide offers a comprehensive look at the languages that will enrich your life and broaden your horizons in 2023.