Is French useful?

[Deleted]

Simple : Do you live in the americas? -> Spanish/Chinese
Do you live in Europe? -> French/German/Chinese
Do you live in asia or africa? -> Chinese/Arabic

That is if you are focusing on utility of a 2nd language. Generally speaking of course.

[SpcGuts]

While French might not be the most useful of those, it definitely is the most beautiful. I had to choose between French and Italian in school and seriously, the choice was beyond doubt!

German is totally beautiful...as long as it's more of a Hessian dialect.

[Deleted]

German is totally beautiful...as long as it's more of a Hessian dialect.

I really do not like most dialects. Especially not the "strong" ones.

Also, while German certainly is not a bad language (absolutely not), personally, I just think that French still is a lot more beautiful.
Unfortunately, depending on where you live and what you generally do, it's use is somewhat limited and occasional. After I finished school I never really had to use it again (which is why I am playing WoW in French in order to put it to use at least occasionally )

[icausewipes]

Spanish for the women and German for the coolness.

[Lothaeryn]

Sorry, the topic of this thread really just reminded me of this:


Aside from French based overseas companies, I don't think French really is that strong in business these days. German and Chinese (whichever dialect is the mainstream one). For sure though.

[Denkou]

If you're in the U.S., the only answer is Spanish.

[robomatticus]

You only need to know French if you plan on surrendering.

[Bonchez]

Which one would you learn, French, German, Spanish or Russian?

I want to learn a second language, but I still don't know which one. Learning a language takes a lot of time and commitment so naturally I want to make sure I don't waste my time. The criteria I'm trying to use is this:

1. Jobs prospects and economy: which language do feel would boost your market value the most?
2. Culture: which language do you think has the biggest cultural output, i.e Music/Television/Cuisine/etc?
3. Difficulty: which one is the easiest?
4. Tourism and Travel: places worth visiting where they speak said language.
5. Future: is the language booming or declining?

I'm leaning towards French for 1, 2, 4 and 5. It's spoken in many parts of the world: Canada, half of Africa, Europe, parts of Latin America. When Africa starts developing, French will also grow in importance and status. Unlike Spanish, French is actually an international language. Spanish is only spoken in Latin America and Spain, whereas French is spoken is more places around the world.

PD: it has to be an European language; no Mandarin, Arabic, etc.

Ever been to the Southwestern US or Florida?

You already know English so you'll be able to live, work, or do other business in most of the civilised world anyways. If you want to learn another language for fun or enrichment you can't go wrong with Spanish or French as both have a strong global presence. German and Russian may sound cooler but outside of Eastern Europe or parts of Eastern Africa where are these languages spoken?

[robomatticus]

Living in America, you should only need to know English. Learning Spanish shouldn't be a requirement just because our country is being overrun by people who refuse to learn the language of the country they're in illegally.

I'm tired of seeing fucking Spanish on everything.

[Vanyali]

Living in America, you should only need to know English. Learning Spanish shouldn't be a requirement just because our country is being overrun by people who refuse to learn the language of the country they're in illegally.

I'm tired of seeing fucking Spanish on everything.

You don't need to learn Spanish in America and the reason you see Spanish is the same reason you see Mandarin, Russian, French, and various other languages in instruction sheets - they're not marketed toward a single country.

[robomatticus]

You don't need to learn Spanish in America and the reason you see Spanish is the same reason you see Mandarin, Russian, French, and various other languages in instruction sheets - they're not marketed toward a single country.

It isn't needed, no. It is starting to seem to be forced on us.

Also, I'm talking billboards, paper, radio and television. It's fucking everywhere.

[Denkou]

You don't need to learn Spanish in America and the reason you see Spanish is the same reason you see Mandarin, Russian, French, and various other languages in instruction sheets - they're not marketed toward a single country.

You don't need to, but it helps immensely, much more so than any of the other languages you mentioned. Try living in California or Texas; there are HUGE numbers of Spanish-speakers there.

Technically you don't NEED to learn any language other than English to get by in the United States, but if you have to learn one other language, Spanish is the way to go.

[Vanyali]

You don't need to, but it helps immensely, much more so than any of the other languages you mentioned. Try living in California or Texas; there are HUGE numbers of Spanish-speakers there.

Technically you don't NEED to learn any language other than English to get by in the United States, but if you have to learn one other language, Spanish is the way to go.

Oh, I live in South Texas and worked in a wal-mart. Believe me, I wish I knew spanish

- - - Updated - - -

It isn't needed, no. It is starting to seem to be forced on us.

Also, I'm talking billboards, paper, radio and television. It's fucking everywhere.

People tailored for people other than english that you don't have to look at (save billboards)? the horror.

you can talk about "forced on us" when you can't find a majority of english versions of those things

[Ryve]

You only need to know French if you plan on surrendering.

This. Excellent for negotiating an unconditional surrender, or offering to serve them rather than them shooting you.

Not really. Too many dialects. "Real" french by default is used by Parisians, and they are literally known for being dicks to outsiders whether you know the language or not.

[PIsForPhuck]

What? You already know the most useful language there is: English.

Personally, I'd go with German if I were choosing between those 4 you listed because I feel like the Germans have more power and more influence than the French.
However, IF you live in America, hands down I would take Spanish. It will far and above (in America) be more useful than French.

[Deleted]

Ooh that guy in "Reno NV desert" promoting his crappy webcomic hasn't commented yet :P

Personally, I like you learn French because it's super useful and good to speak. I wish i knew Spanis

[Ealyssa]

IMO it really depends where you live.

If you are in the US, spanish is probably the best choice. But if you are in Europe I would say russian would certainly be the best asset for work. It depend of the field obviously, but if your work really reward speaking multiple language russian is a good option. Many people took some spanish course in europe, a lot less took russian.

german is 100% the most useless of all the languages you mentioned.

And I tell this being in the middle of Europe, speaking french (main language), german, italian and english.

But IMO if you really want to learn a new language. Take chinese (mandarin actually, even if HK speak cantonese, mandarin is the "official" chinese language) to speak to your future master.

[Deleted]

Honestly, as someone who speaks francais

No.

Learn Chinese, Hindi, or Spanish.

[Kaleredar]

Spanish seemed easier to learn. That's what I did in highschool.

[PIsForPhuck]

Most German and Russian people speak english.

I would go with french or spanish.

This is incorrect.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...ing_population
Only about 17% of the Russian population knows English. Follow the far right column to "second language", it's only like 7.5 million. Their total population is almost 144m.