Having a proficiency and learning foreign languages are an important point for any business person seeking to communicate internationally (or do business in the emerging markets). Of course, the quality of that communication and understanding is heavily based on your or your colleague’s ability to speak a particular language to a certain level.
That’s where online learning comes in; nowadays, there are a lot of online schools that offer teaching languages in the shortest time. To help you decide on what languages your business/colleagues should be investing time in, here’s a breakdown of the most popular/valuable languages to learn for a growing international business and why.
1. English
People in 94 countries use this language for various business conferences, presentations, and meetings. On the Internet, about 54% of sites use English. We can say this language became global. That’s why is you’re thinking about your business, it’s wise to choose English as the “main” language for communication. Of course, it may also depend on your own country, sort of business, and many other things.
2. Chinese (Mandarin)
As we all can see, Chinese economics develops lately, and it’s possible to say that China will become the leader in the world economy approximately by 2050. Among Internet users, Chinese is the 2nd most popular language. If you’re planning to develop a business connected with China, then use Chinese for communication with partners, clients, etc. to build successful business connections and develop your ideas in the global market.
3. Spanish
It doesn’t mean that you can open a business with Spanish language only in Spain because nowadays, many people in the USA speak this language! According to statistics, there are around 53 million Spanish speakers in the US. Turn your attention to the fact that the Hispanic population grows up constantly in this country. So, if you’re planning to start your business in America, select the Spanish language without any doubts!
4. German
210 million people in the world use German. It’s a great language for doing international business with EU countries, including Germany, Luxembourg, Austria, and many others. Many Internet users speak German too. If you’re making business contracts with countries listed above, select German as the first language for communication with partners.
5. Portuguese
Many business people choose Brazil for expansion in the LATAM region Behind Spanish, Portuguese is the second most popular language used in Brazil, Portugal, and Africa. The economy of Latin America is growing up fast, so it’s a good place to start your own business. Choose the Portuguese language to get wonderful business opportunities!
6. Arabic
Using Arabic for your business is a great chance to develop ideas in Middle Eastern countries. There are around 300 million Arabic speakers all over the world, in 28 countries. That’s why we set Arabic as a language of the future for the business.
7. French
Many people know French as a language for love, but it’s a great language for business opportunities too! There are a lot of French-speaking people all over the world in many countries, including the European Union and Africa. Don’t hesitate to select French for business if you’re planning to cooperate with Africa, UK, or EU.
8. Japanese
Japan is a well-developed country with bright perspectives and modern innovations that is perfect for business cooperation. Around 130 million people in our world speak this language. Japan is a country of modern electronics and robotics, so if you’re cooperating with this country, Japanese is a must-have language for your future company!
9. Russian
Russian is the 2nd language used by people on the Internet after English. There are not many people in Russia who know English perfectly, so translating your content and company’s brochures into Russian will help you to set stronger connections with this country and do business in Russia.
10. Hindi
India is a country with a strong economy that is fully acceptable for cooperation. Hindi is the 10th most popular language in the world. India’s economy and localisation makes this country very profitable for business cooperation.
