I wish I could downvote this.
C++ is definitely not "generally used", with Python and Java as top: http://cacm.acm.org/blogs/blog-cacm/...ities/fulltext
I also completely disagree that people don't use java anymore. I don't even know why people say this. Example article: http://www.theneweconomy.com/technol...ll-not-die-out
I also started over 10 years ago, and Java was a great language, then. It's still as hire-able now. Anecdotally, I work for mid-sized web application and we are entirely a java shop. So...I don't want to tread on your experiences in the industry...but it just doesn't track at all with mine or those that I know.
@OP
I guess the best recommendation is to pick someone who seems to make sense, like Zoibert the Bear's answer above, and then go hard. No programming knowledge is useless, even if the language is deemed archaic. It's really learning to solve tech problems with tech toolsets that's the most valuable piece, the language becomes transmutable easily after that.