• 1st July 2016

Talking trends

Laurent Huc is the director of Nacel International, a language learning experience that incorporates educational travel.

Language learning remains a popular subject in our global economy. As the world shrinks and we travel more, the use of language gains in importance as a key to understanding people and cultures from across the globe.

In 2016, trends regarding learning a second language are shifting.

In the past, most professionals in the language industry viewed Spanish and English as the two most popular second languages to learn. While both languages remain important and popular, others are catching them up.

Mandarin Chinese is currently the most widely spoken language in the world. As China continues to move toward the number one ranking as a global product manufacturer and distributor, the importance of gaining fluency in this language cannot be overstated.

The Middle East also has a fast growing market of consumers, and that makes Arabic another popular and important language to learn. At the same time, the need to improve relations with many Arabic nations tops the list for many countries, so mastering this language opens doors to interesting diplomatic careers.

German is also the most widely spoken language across Europe, and Germany boasts the third largest economy in the global community. Individuals who speak and understand German fluently enjoy fantastic career opportunities as a result, and many express that learning a third or even fourth language is easier after mastering German.

Learning techniques are changing, too. One-size-fits-all classroom settings are a dying breed, and instead, consumers are turning to one-on-one tutoring programs and live-abroad programs that offer full immersion in the study of language. With increased access to the Internet and improved broadband in even the most remote locations, home study programs that allow learners to work at their own pace and study when it is convenient for them, even while travelling for business, are also quite popular.

Whatever method you choose, one thing is definitely true: the more languages you learn, the better prepared you will be to meet the world of tomorrow.

Nacel offers a wide variety of language programmes.