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What languages can you learn in college?

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Charlotte Adams

Published Mar 08, 2026

What languages can you learn in college?

The Best Languages to Learn in College
  • Chinese. Everyone's talking about how China is going to take over the world.
  • Japanese. Back in the '80s and '90s, Japanese was the go-to language for the budding careerist, because then the Land of the Rising Sun was the one poised for world conquest.
  • French.
  • Italian.
  • German.
  • Spanish.
  • Russian.
  • Portuguese.

Herein, how many languages can you learn in college?

College CourseAccording to a study by the Modern Language Association, more than 1.5 million college students enroll in a language class each semester. Of the languages taught, Spanish far outpaces all others, with approximately 50 percent of learners enrolled in at least one language class.

Secondly, can you become fluent in a language in college? Most college students who aren't majoring in language rarely take more than two years of a language. That's enough to get a good idea of what a language is like and to become fluent for that level, but the problem is that level is not anything close to near-native fluency overall in a language.

Regarding this, what is the easiest language to learn in college?

Spanish

What languages should doctors learn?

This is often misjudged by most people since medical language does not come in one language. You need to learn proper English, and of Latin and Greek medical language origin. English medical term in fact did came from Latin after all.

Is French hard to learn?

French is not difficult to learn. For an English speaker, French is among the easiest languages to learn, even easier than German (although you would think two Germanic languages would have more in common). French is easy for English speakers because of the number of cognates between the two languages.

What language do colleges prefer?

In general, colleges want to see foreign language proficiency, and they don't really care which language you study. Most students, in fact, have few choices. Many schools offer just a couple of languages such as French and Spanish.

Can I take two languages in college?

If you find the right course, yes, you can study two languages at once. My daughter took the Translating./Interpreting course at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh (this course has a worldwide reputation for excellence), doing French and German. All good language classes include a "year abroad", in relevant countries.

Can you start a new language in college?

Students who want to learn a new language should take advantage of study abroad programs available to them during their college years to accelerate the process. "The more language students have before going abroad, the more their proficiency will improve in the target country."

Should I learn a new language in college?

It is never too late to learn a new language, and while in college, it is the perfect time to do so. Not only is learning a second language going to make you well-rounded, it can also help to open doors when you are looking for employment.

Can you learn Chinese in college?

Rather, start by looking for an established Chinese language program or workshop. Universities and dedicated language schools are a good place to start. Some colleges even offer intensive courses that cram a full year of basic Chinese into 4-8 weeks. Do your homework to find the best program.

Should I study languages at university?

You will leave university with a degree AND fluency in a foreign language making you a very desirable job candidate. You can study a language with another subject like Business, Modern History, Law or History of Art as a Joint Degree to keep your career options wide open. You get to spend a year abroad!

What language should you take in high school?

High School and College Language Learning
Most high schools offer several years of foreign language–typically Spanish, French, German, and Mandarin Chinese. Sometimes these classes are mandatory, other times they are electives–but you should take advantage of these courses.

What language is the most fun to learn?

And if you're up for a bit of fun, consider learning one of these ten languages:
  • English. Possessing a wealth of adopted words, English is an incredibly expressive, varied and flexible language.
  • Spanish.
  • 3. Japanese.
  • Sign language.
  • Brazilian Portuguese.
  • Turkish.
  • Italian.
  • German.

What language is the hardest to learn?

The Hardest Languages For English Speakers
  1. Mandarin Chinese. Interestingly, the hardest language to learn is also the most widely spoken native language in the world.
  2. Arabic.
  3. Polish.
  4. Russian.
  5. Turkish.
  6. Danish.

What is the most useful language to learn?

Here are some key things to take into account when deciding which language is most useful for you.
  • French.
  • German.
  • Hindustani.
  • Italian.
  • Japanese.
  • Portuguese.
  • Russian.
  • Spanish. If you live in the U.S. and want to learn a language you'll use regularly, Spanish is a leading contender.

What is the hardest language in the world?

The Hardest Languages For English Speakers
  1. Mandarin Chinese. Interestingly, the hardest language to learn is also the most widely spoken native language in the world.
  2. Arabic.
  3. Polish.
  4. Russian.
  5. Turkish.
  6. Danish.

Does duolingo make you fluent?

Duolingo gives you a great base in a new language, but it will not "make" you fluent. The only thing that can make you fluent is yourself! And if you want to learn to speak a language fluently, you're going to have to practice speaking the language!

Which language is closest to English?

The Closest Languages to English: Dutch
You might have heard that Dutch is the closest language to English. Indeed, it's the closest “major” language and is sometimes said to be “in-between” English and German.

Is French or Spanish easier to learn?

French has more letter sounds and harder pronunciation. I've studied both and found Spanish much easier. The grammar is more straight forward, the spelling and conjugations are more regular, and the pronunciation (for a native English speaker) is much easier.

Why is French so hard?

The French language tends to be difficult to pronounce at first because there are simply sounds that native English speakers aren't used to making. To begin with, French is more evenly stressed. This means that while some parts of a word are stressed, it's not as distinct as in English.

How hard is it to learn Chinese?

To answer your question, its Yes, hard to learn Chinese. This language is different from any other languages in the world. Its a pictorial and Vocal too. The Traditional Chinese language is tough for native Chinese too and country was affected by illitercy due to this economy was getting impacted.

Are language classes worth it?

So, the bottom line is language courses and classes can be beneficial as long as you know exactly what you need and the course provides that specific thing. Some language learners will find that they can learn independently most of the time while others will find it easier to get a bit more direction.

Are language degrees hard?

Languages are by far the hardest degrees. And before you ask, no, languages degrees are not just about sitting in classrooms talking in French, Italian, Spanish, German, Portuguese or what have you. Actually speaking languages only makes up a tiny percentage in comparison to what else we have to do.

Are language degrees worth it?

If you're passionate about languages, then go for it, but please consider double majoring or studying it alongside a more employable degree/field, such as business, law, medicine, social work or general academia. It's worth it if you want to teach it or translate for sure.

Can you become fluent in Spanish in college?

Most college students who aren't majoring in language rarely take more than two years of a language. That's enough to get a good idea of what a language is like and to become fluent for that level, but the problem is that level is not anything close to near-native fluency overall in a language.

Does majoring in a language make you fluent?

Yes, if you do it right. In order to become fluent in a language, you need to use that language continuously. As for colleges, it depends on the country. In some countries, colleges are very school-like and students don't have much abilities to learn things freely in practice.

Can you learn a language in university?

Learn a New Language at University. Many universities have language centers, where students can sign up to take part-time courses in a range of different languages. Some do so out of necessity, to support their studies or improve their ability to communicate in the language of the country they're studying in.

How do you pass a foreign language class?

Foreign Languages Program: How To Succeed
  1. Study every day.
  2. Distribute your study time in 15- to 30-minute periods throughout the day.
  3. Attend and participate in every class even if you are not well prepared.
  4. Make yourself comfortable in the classroom.
  5. Learn Grammar if you don't already know it.
  6. Practice for tests by doing what you will have to do on the test.

Should I take French in college?

If you want to go on, there is a better chance of finding upper level classes, graduate programs and study abroad opportunities. If you want to do something a but different that not everyone else is doing, go with French. It's still a fairly widely spoken language and a fair number of schools still offer

Do bilingual doctors make more money?

Bilingual Bonuses
Three-quarters of hospitals offering financial incentives for foreign language skills gave doctors base salary increases ranging from less than a dollar to $20 extra per hour, according to the survey. Some hospitals offered one-time bonuses of up to $500 to doctors proficient in a foreign language.

How many doctors speak Spanish?

Policy Implications. Our findings have several policy implications. First, in California, there are an estimated 4.6 million people who speak Spanish at home and speak English with LEP.

What is the best language to learn for medicine?

Medicine requires much more than a rudimentary understanding, as physicians communicate very complex ideas. An adcom on SDN recently posted that Spanish is probably the best, but that any foreign language has value. The answer is Deutsch.

What language should I learn for business?

The best languages to learn for business
  • Mandarin Chinese - The business language of the future.
  • German - The European business language.
  • Arabic - The gateway to the Middle East.
  • Spanish - The language of the fastest growing American market segment.
  • Portuguese - A continent of opportunity.

Do doctors need to know Latin?

Most medical terms are in greek or latin (or bastard combinations of the two), so learning either language would be helpful. Pattern recognition (an important skill for medicine). Anyone admitted to medical school is already bright, so it really isn't an issue. Greek and latin knowledge are not necessary.

How can I learn sign language?

  1. Take a sign language class.
  2. Learn online by watching videos.
  3. Join a sign language group, deaf club or visit a deaf café
  4. Take an online course.
  5. Hire a private, qualified sign language tutor.
  6. Watch and mimic interpreters.
  7. Ask your Deaf friends and family teach you.
  8. Use an App.

What language should a nurse learn?

The best language for nursing students ranges from Arabic to Zulu depending on location. In Minneapolis, Somali and Hmong are spoken by large populations. In California, Mandarin and Korean are more useful. Before minoring in Spanish or Sesotho, nursing students should research widely spoken languages in the area.

What language is used in medicine?

Medical terminology often uses words created using prefixes and suffixes in Latin and Ancient Greek. In medicine, their meanings, and their etymology, are informed by the language of origin. Prefixes and suffixes, primarily in Greek—but also in Latin, have a droppable -o-.

Why is Spanish important in the medical field?

The benefits of having physicians familiar with Spanish are numerous. For example, according to the New York Sun, aspiring physicians feel that they can form better relationships with patients by speaking their language. An important part of practicing medicine is creating a lasting bond with those you treat.