There is no denying the attractiveness of soaking up in a new language as the globe grows more interconnected. Being able to converse internationally may be very beneficial for both business and pleasure. This blog will tell you some of the best pointers and recommendations for language learning to help you on your learning path. 

In addition to telling you about the potential advantages of language acquisition, we will also let you in on the more popular ones to learn. We will also discuss how long and how challenging learning a language could be if you're attempting to determine how long it takes. You're likely to discover some helpful information, regardless of whether you're new to learning languages or wish to get better at it. 

Why take a language course? 

There are numerous benefits to learning a new language, both professionally and emotionally. There are many reasons to do so, even though it occasionally seems like a difficult task. Furthermore, locating the appropriate materials and establishing connections with other students and native speakers has never been simpler. 

We've listed a few possible advantages of learning a new language in case you need further persuasion: 

It improves mental clarity. 

Numerous research have looked into how our brains handle language learning. It's an intriguing field of study with some unexpected results. For instance, the intricate process of learning a language might increase the brain's white and grey matter volume. A few of these brain areas are linked to improved attention, task-switching, and problem-solving abilities.

According to one study, those who were bilingual had dementia 4.5 years later than those who were monolingual, irrespective of variables including employment, sex, education, and place of residence. There are undoubtedly some amazing effects of language acquisition on the brain.

It improves your chances of getting a job.

The effect that bilingualism can have on one's professional opportunities is another topic that has been well-researched. Multiple language speakers can make more money, according to several polls. 

For instance, in 2010 The Guardian stated that learning a second language may increase your pay by 10% to 15% in positions like sales, marketing, or technical assistance. It also, of course, implies that you have access to greater opportunities. Being fluent in a second language may be quite beneficial, whether your goal is to work abroad or in a position that calls for multilingualism. 

It enhances other skills as well.

Along with honing your language abilities, you'll pick up and be able to use a range of additional capabilities. Acquiring proficiency in a second language facilitates abilities such as creativity, multitasking, and problem-solving. Demonstrating your proficiency in a second language may undoubtedly improve your resume in many ways and help you stand out to potential employers. 

It facilitates networking with new people.

You're offering yourself the chance to socialize and engage with new people by learning whichever language or languages you decide to study. You will be able to converse with others who may not speak the same language as you through language classes, apps, or vacations. 

It facilitates cross-cultural understanding.

As we'll see, comprehending the many cultures that speak a language is one of the fundamental components of learning it. You may visit to other places (after the epidemic), fully immerse yourself in the local way of life, and even enhance your intercultural comprehension at work with this cultural awareness. 

How much time is needed to acquire a language? 

You may be wondering when you'll be able to speak and comprehend the language, and you're undoubtedly excited to get started on your language-learning adventure. These things, of course, take time to happen. Learning a new language requires a significant investment of time and effort, which can vary greatly depending on a multitude of circumstances. 

Having stated that there are several estimations available for the duration. The US Foreign Service Institute is arguably the most credible. Based on the level of difficulty, they separated languages into four categories, and then looked at how long it took US diplomats to achieve "Professional Working Proficiency." They discovered the following: 

• Category I: These include languages like French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and Swedish; they are more like English. Professional proficiency typically requires 600-750 class hours, or an estimated 24-30 weeks of instruction. 
• Category II: Languages like German, Swahili, Indonesian, Malay, and Haitian Creole are included in this. For professional competency, around 900 class hours or 36 weeks of instruction are needed.
• Category III: These are the most difficult languages—Belarusian, Czech, Finnish, Greek, Hebrew, Icelandic, Polish, Russian, Tamil, Thai, and Vietnamese—that differ greatly from English. Professional competency typically requires 1100 class hours, or approximately 44 weeks, of instruction.
• Category IV: For English speakers, these "super-hard" languages are incredibly challenging. Arabic, Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, and Korean are among them. Professional competency typically requires 2200 class hours or around 88 weeks of instruction. 

Naturally, you're not trying to reach a professional level of expertise just yet. Fortunately, it doesn't take long to become proficient in many of the fundamentals. Numerous language courses are available online to assist you in laying a strong foundation and simply take a few weeks to finish. 

Which are the most popular languages to learn? 

You may find it interesting to know which languages are now in vogue if you haven't decided which new language to study. It might be helpful to know some of the most in-demand languages worldwide, whether you want to utilize them for career advancement or to open doors to new travel destinations. 

English is one of the languages that is most often spoken worldwide, as one might anticipate. It is beneficial for travel, employment, and language acquisition, with around 339 million native speakers and 1.5 billion language learners. IELTS certifications are widely accepted worldwide and are taken by about 5 million individuals annually. 

In addition to English, there are several additional languages with large populations of learners, native speakers, and employment prospects, such as: 

• Chinese: Approximately 917 million of the 1.3 billion native Chinese speakers are also proficient in Mandarin. Gaining proficiency in Chinese might open up many doors for you on the personal and professional fronts. 
• Spanish: Approximately 20 nations globally have Spanish as their official language.  It is the second most spoken native language in the world, behind Mandarin, with approximately 450 million native speakers. 
• Arabic: The number of people speaking Arabic is rising quickly, particularly online. There are a lot of settings and circumstances in which you can use it since it is spoken in around 60 nations and designated as the official language in about 25. 
• French: French is spoken in over 51 nations worldwide, making it the third most common language after Arabic and English. Furthermore, it's a language that's spoken in a lot of the world's fastest-growing regions. 
• Russian: More than 120 million people speak Russian as a second language, in addition to the approximately 150 million native speakers. It is the ninth most widely spoken language in the world. 

Final thoughts

It's obvious that this is a great effort, but you shouldn't rush it. Many hours of study are still to come. Therefore, you may increase your knowledge by making the time to create goals, acquire vocabulary, and practice with native speakers. 

Acquiring language proficiency may be beneficial for your personal and career endeavors. It may enhance other abilities and broaden your awareness of different cultures in addition to adding to your resume. No matter what your language learning objectives are, there are plenty of courses available to support you.