The most widely spoken languages at work

Which are the most useful languages at work? Although English is always the favourite, an Italian wishing to learn another language is spoilt for choice. So here are the best languages to learn in order to perform better in your professional field, taking into account factors such as global usage, economic and political relevance and geographical considerations.

1-French

Considering that French is among the 15 most widely spoken languages in the world, with currently around 290 million French speakers and the language is used in 30 countries, understanding and speaking it is extremely useful both on a personal and professional level.

2- German

German is very important for the Italians due to the simple fact that Germany is one of our major trading partners. That language is spoken by at least 90 million people and is definitely the most widely used language of the Old Continent.

3- Chinese

China may be a long way away, but its role in Italy’s import and export business is nevertheless of fundamental importance. Furthermore, Chinese is the language with the highest number of native speakers in the world and as China’s economic growth continues, this number can only increase.

4- Spanish

Among useful languages for work we must also include Spanish, which is used by 440 million people living in at least 44 nations scattered around the globe. This language is very similar to Italian because both have neo-latin origins and for this reason it is quite easy for Italians to learn.

5- Russian

Russian is fundamental for Italian trade relations and should be learned, considering that in Russia, English is not always spoken. Anyone wishing to conduct business with that nation must therefore adapt by learning to make themselves understood by its inhabitants.

6 –Arabic

Although the Italians do not commonly learn Arabic as a second language, it is still the third most widely spoken language in the world and boasts over 220 million native speakers in almost 60 countries. Its relevance cannot therefore be ignored.

7 –Japanese

Although Japan is behind China as regards economic development, it still remains a major world power. Its language is spoken by over 120 million native speakers and for an Italian it is a strategic business language.

Translated by Joanne Beckwith