Top 10 Best Foreign Languages to Learn for Students in 2025 

Picking the right foreign language can seriously boost your student life and your career after graduation. Whether you want to study in Europe, travel across Asia, or work in global industries. Knowing a second (or third) language can open up a world of opportunities.

In this blog, we’ve rounded up 10 of the best foreign languages for students to learn right now. From Mandarin and Spanish to Arabic and Korean, these languages aren’t just popular they’re powerful. Let’s take a look at why they matter, where they’re spoken, and how they can help shape your international journey.

Mandarin Chinese

Mandarin isn’t just another language. It’s the most spoken language on the planet and used by over 1.1 billion native speakers. It’s the official language in China. Plus, it’s the second-largest economy in the world. And is also used in Taiwan and Singapore. With China’s expanding global influence in tech, manufacturing, and trade, learning Mandarin can give students a strong edge in the job market.  

Yes, Mandarin can feel intimidating at first. It uses four tones. and instead of an alphabet, it relies on thousands of characters. But here’s the upside: it’s also one of the most in-demand languages in business and international relations. Following are the key details of Mandarin Chinese language: 

Spanish

Spanish is one of the easiest and most useful languages to learn. It’s phonetic (what you see is what you say) and has a simple sentence structure. Also, it is spoken by 486+ million native speakers. That makes it the second most spoken native language globally, just behind Mandarin. Spanish is used officially in over 20 countries, including Spain, most of Latin America, and parts of the US.  

It’s incredibly helpful if you want to travel, work in international organizations, or engage in volunteer work. With Spanish being the second most studied language in the world, it’s also easy to find learning resources for this. Following are the key details of Spanish language: 

French

French is one of the most important global languages. It is often associated with diplomacy, international relations, and high culture. spoken by over 300 million people worldwide, it’s an official language in 29 countries across Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, and Canada. Plus, it’s also used by major global organizations like the United Nations, European Union, and Red Cross.  

French is a great pick if you’re looking to study or work in places like France, Belgium, Switzerland, Quebec, or West Africa. Many universities in these regions offer programs either fully or partially in French. Plus, it’s one of the top three most taught languages globally. Following are the key details of French language: 

German

German is the most widely spoken native language in Europe. and is used by over 135 million people worldwide. It’s the official language in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Luxembourg. It plays a key role in the European Union and international trade. If you’re planning to study in Germany, learning German can save you money and give you access to good education.  

Knowing German is also a major plus for those heading into STEM, engineering, finance, logistics, or manufacturing sectors. Also, Many global companies like BMW, Siemens, Bosch, and SAP are based in German-speaking countries. Following are the key details of German language: 

Read more: How to Study German Language in Germany

Japanese 

Japanese is the national language of Japan, spoken by around 125 million people. And it ranks among the top 10 most spoken languages in the world. Japan is known for being a global leader in technology, robotics, design, and animation. Major companies like Sony, Toyota, Nintendo, and Canon are based there. Japan also offers various scholarship programs for international students.  

And many universities are opening more English-taught programs with optional Japanese courses. While Japanese can be tough to learn. Mainly because it uses three writing systems (Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji). Its sentence structure is fairly consistent once you get the basics down. If you’re planning to live or work in Japan, even basic Japanese can improve your daily experience. Following are the key details of Japanese language: 

Arabic

Arabic is spoken by over 310 million native speakers, making it the 5th most spoken language globally. It is the official language in more than 25 countries, mainly across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, UAE, Iraq, Morocco, and Jordan. Arabic is also one of the six official languages of the United Nations. It is widely used in religious studies, international affairs, and energy sectors. There are many different dialects of Arabic.  

But most formal settings, including news, literature, and education, use Modern Standard Arabic (MSA).  Arabic is considered one of the harder languages for English speakers due to its script and grammatical rules. But learning it opens the door to high-paying jobs in diplomacy, oil & gas, journalism, and global security. Following are the key details of Arabic language: 

Korean

Korean is the national language of South Korea and North Korea. It is spoken by around 80 million people globally. In recent years, Korean has become super popular among students worldwide. Thanks to the global popularity of K-pop, Korean dramas, K-beauty, and international brands like Samsung, LG, and Hyundai. South Korea is also one of the top destinations for international students. 

It’s known for excellent technology and modern lifestyle. Cities like Seoul, Daejeon, and Busan are student-friendly, safe, and full of cultural experiences. Korean is unique because it uses Hangul. It is one of the most scientifically developed and easiest alphabets to learn. The challenge lies in grammar structures, levels of politeness, and cultural context. Following are the key details of Korean language: 

Portuguese

Portuguese is spoken by over 260 million people, making it the 6th most spoken language in the world. It’s the official language in nine countries, including Brazil, Portugal, Mozambique, Angola, and Cape Verde. It’s also a key working language in organizations like the European Union, African Union, and Mercosur.  

It is great for students interested in travel, international business, sustainable development, or cultural studies. Brazil, in particular, has a huge influence in tech, agriculture, sports, and creative arts. It’s also the largest Portuguese-speaking country and home to rising industries in e-commerce, renewable energy, and digital media. Following are the key details of Portugese language: 

Russian

Russian is spoken by over 258 million people globally, making it the 8th most spoken language in the world. It’s the official language of Russia, and widely spoken across Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine. Plus, it’s also spoken in several Eastern European and Central Asian countries. It also plays a key role in global diplomacy.  

There are many scientific papers and exploration projects (like those by Roscosmos and NASA). So, if you’re into engineering, cybersecurity, linguistics, or Slavic history, Russian can offer you access to top universities. It uses six cases of grammar and has verb complexities. Following are the key details of Russian language: 

Italian

Italian is often called the language of culture, cuisine, and classical arts. With about 85 million speakers worldwide, it’s mainly used in Italy, parts of Switzerland, San Marino, Malta, and the Vatican City. It’s also an important language in fields like art history, fashion, opera, and architecture. 

Italy is home to some of the oldest universities in the world like University of Bologna and Politecnico di Milano. Italian has a musical rhythm, phonetic spelling, and shared Latin roots with English, French, and Spanish. It is one of the easier languages to learn for English speakers. Following are the key details of Italian language: 

Conclusion 

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to learning a new language. It really depends on where you’re headed, what you’re studying, and where you see your future career going. But one thing is clear, being multilingual gives you a major edge. 

And hey, if you’re planning to study abroad and need a place to stay, University Living has your back. We help students find verified, safe, and budget-friendly accommodation in top student cities around the world. Explore student housing options with University Living today and make your move abroad a smooth one! 

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