Need Advice on Which Language to Learn

[Hooked]

Learn Chinese so you can communicate with your new rulers.

[Kasierith]

German. Two semesters in Russian will get you to barely being able to scrape by, Italian might get you to conversational, but with German you can learn enough in two semesters to actually use it for something. English and Russian German are in the same language family, and have a lot of crossover; whereas with both Italian and Russian you'll have to learn completely new structures that are not even slightly related to what you know.

[Mercadi]

If you have any questions or potentially help with Russian, feel free to PM me. It won't be easy for you, but I knew an American once who spoke it astoundingly well (also started to learn it in his 20s).

- - - Updated - - -

German. Two semesters in Russian will get you to barely being able to scrape by, Italian might get you to conversational, but with German you can learn enough in two semesters to actually use it for something. English and Russian are in the same language family, and have a lot of crossover; whereas with both Italian and Russian you'll have to learn completely new structures that are not even slightly related to what you know.

Apologies, but Russian and English are not of the same family. English is a mix of North Germanic and Celtic languages, whereas Russian is in Slavic group (with some influence of Finno-Ugric and Turkic). You may be confused by similar words in both languages. It's a usual word borrowing that happens between many languages. Russian language borrowed a lot of French and German words too.

[dwightyo39]

Do any of you have experience with Rosetta Stone software? If so, what language, and did it work for you?

[Hooked]

Do any of you have experience with Rosetta Stone software? If so, what language, and did it work for you?

Only way I can learn foreign languages is through immersion.

[Alkestis22]

on that three, if you think what is useful to you go for it instead to think and ask for suggestion

[Zoaric]

If you have any questions or potentially help with Russian, feel free to PM me. It won't be easy for you, but I knew an American once who spoke it astoundingly well (also started to learn it in his 20s).

Apologies, but Russian and English are not of the same family. English is a mix of North Germanic and Celtic languages, whereas Russian is in Slavic group (with some influence of Finno-Ugric and Turkic). You may be confused by similar words in both languages. It's a usual word borrowing that happens between many languages. Russian language borrowed a lot of French and German words too.

Thanks, if I go that route, I'll do so.

[SiuHon]

中文，國語。

You should definitely learn Mandarin Chinese! It's not as hard as you might thin and also, allows you to experience a massive culture that is typically closed to those unable to speak the language!

[Djuntas]

German is the best langue for general usage, most europeans would agree.

Germany is huge country afterall, with a big economy powering europe.

[Annoying]

You're in the USA. Swallow your pride to learn those languages (believe me, I understand, I have always wanted to learn German) and take up Spanish.

Spanish is all over, especially in the states.

I might study abroad in one of these countries

It really comes down to: Where are you going to live when you're done with schooling? If it's in the USA, Spanish is by far and wide the best choice. If it's in the EU, German is your best choice. Do keep in mind that it's not horribly easy to get an international job. I know a ton of German (not quite fluent, but I can understand almost anything anyone says to me... Just not so good at forming sentences back) and I had 0 luck with getting any response from any German companies I sent my resume to. I had outstanding grades in my undergrad and during my master's, but not being completely fluent makes "just moving" to another country to work real tough.

[Symphonic]

I put other. Specifically Spanish.

My reasoning - if you know English and Spanish, you can communicate with the majority of the world.

If you don't want to learn spanish, Italian is kind of similar and you may be able to understand a lot of people once you've learned Italian.

[Deleted]

I put other. Specifically Spanish.

My reasoning - if you know English and Spanish, you can communicate with the majority of the world.

If you don't want to learn spanish, Italian is kind of similar and you may be able to understand a lot of people once you've learned Italian.

Have to agree with this. Having Spanish as second or third language helps alot. You have most of the world covered just with those 2.
You'll have a ton of countries to choose from if you need to study abroad or you could just jump around once you've learned the basics.

[Solidsteel]

If you intend to use the language to communicate in some way after taking the classes then take German. If you don't think you'll be using the language to communicate in your career and still want a language with practical uses, take Latin. I took 3 Latin classes in high school and it has helped me in so many ways since then. Also took 1 Latin class in college.

[Jämeson]

I graduated from Mizzou in 2005 and I actually received one of my minors in German. So I say go with that, especially if they are still using really cute German girls for the T.A.'s

[Deleted]

Learn the language Enya sings in. Somehow i think it will become very important within the next 5 years.

[Kasierith]

Apologies, but Russian and English are not of the same family. English is a mix of North Germanic and Celtic languages, whereas Russian is in Slavic group (with some influence of Finno-Ugric and Turkic). You may be confused by similar words in both languages. It's a usual word borrowing that happens between many languages. Russian language borrowed a lot of French and German words too.

Ya, meant to say German with that, not Russian.

[Deleted]

They do but they don't like using it.

Heh, reminds of a time when I was in France and my exhaust broke coming off the ferry -.- The Mechanic at the Renault garage didn't speak English at all, it was 300euros for a mid section then I explained 'non Englais, Je suis Eccossais' - Suddenly the guy spoke decent English and he welded my Exhaust for 20euros lol.

OT, German is my favourite out of your selection (I do speak some and it is relatively easy to pick up when your mother tongue is English). Personally I'd go for Cantonese.

[Deleted]

Russian
Pro's: widely spoken language and russia is the future, beautiful girls and country.
cons: other alphabet, pretty hard

German
pro's: widely spoken
cons: ugly language, boring country

Italian
pro's: one of the most beautiful languages, very beautiful country, hot girls
cons: pretty useless language

[Chain Chungus]

Spanish is the most bang for your buck.

[glycerethe]

pick one you want to learn the most with your own reasons so you can't regret or make excuses after.