It is undeniable that communicating with business partners and clients in their native language will help you close more deals successfully. However, with over 6,000 languages around the globe, how do you choose the language to focus on? What language will be the best choice for your career?

Companies always value bi-lingual employees. You will receive an estimated 2% return on your investment for learning a foreign language. At the same time, Spanish has a return rate of 1.4 percent while German offers as high of a return as 3.8 percent.  However, that’s not just a bigger salary; knowing another country’s language means you have a better chance of succeeding in business as a whole. You show your partners and clients that you care.  One of the best advice you can get when it comes to language learning is the importance of immersing yourself into the culture as well. Being able to see outside of your cultural limitations will help you to relate to people and make you a better business person.

Here are five languages we think will yield success in your business:

1. German
While Japan and China may have the highest gross domestic product, their languages do not top the list. A high GDP does not correlate to higher earnings necessarily.
Think like a business person. Consider the open economies of the world and which powerhouses have the most open economies. 
Germany makes up one of the three economic European powerhouses. So learning German will benefit an outside more economically than the language of a closed economy.  

2. French
About 300 million people in 29 countries speak French. You can easily see why it ranks second among the languages you need to learn to succeed in business. 

Initially, you may think that only French people in France speak French. However, when you know French, you can work with French companies in France and the many other French-speaking countries. Canada, Switzerland, Belgium, and North and sub-Saharan Africa all boast of this language as one of their main languages. 
Furthermore, France has the fifth-biggest economy. You would do well to partner with a French company. 
At first glance, French may appear to be spoken by only those living in France. But it happens to be the second most widely learned language after English. Knowing how to speak French opens the doors to French companies in France, and other French-speaking countries such as Canada, Switzerland, Belgium, and North and sub-Saharan Africa. As the world’s fifth-biggest economy and number-three destination for foreign investment, France is a key economic partner.
If you’re looking to earn your Master’s degree, learn French. Students who can speak French are eligible for scholarship opportunities at some of Europe’s most renowned universities.  

3. Spanish
One of the easiest languages to learn, Spanish has graced the American school curriculum for decades. Twenty countries have Spanish as their primary language. So knowing Spanish will expand your business opportunities. 

Over 400 million people speak Spanish worldwide. Furthermore, countries like Mexico, Chile, and Columbia heave healthy, growing economies. You will want to have the ability to do business with companies in these healthy economies.  
Courses like Lingvist’s Spanish course will help you master Spanish quickly and thoroughly. 

4. Mandarin
China has the world’s new dominant economy. Plus, it has over a billion people you can work with. Learning even the basics of Mandarin will help you conduct basic communication with Chinese business partners.

Unfortunately, Mandarin is a complicated language to learn. Thus, if you plan on tackling this language, plan on spending some time mastering it.  

5. Arabic
The 2018 gross domestic product of the Arab world was over $2.7 trillion. The Middle East hosts an abundance of market opportunities. Thus Arabic speakers carry a big advantage over those who cannot speak this difficult language.

Like Mandarin, Arabic takes time to learn. It has inflections much different from English which may be why so many English speakers do not tackle it. But from a business perspective, learning Arabic makes sense.

If you are looking for a new language to learn, Mandarin Chinese might be a perfect adventure to embark on. Mandarin is the most spoken and fastest growing language in the world, widely used in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau. It is also the third most commonly spoken language in the United States.
Give yourself a chance to be a front-runner in global markets and unlock new business opportunities with Mandarin Chinese.  With Chinese economy on an astronomical rise, Mandarin has become an essential language in the business world. China has become the world’s largest trading nation in 2013 and the largest exporter of goods in 2009. The main exporting destinations are the United States and the European Union. By 2030 China is expected to become the world’s largest economy. Chinese corporate sector has established its global importance in technology, engineering, consumer goods, and pharmaceuticals areas.
Another reason to learn Chinese is exploring incredible diverse Chinese culture and the most ancient literature in the world. Understanding the basics of Mandarin Chinese will serve as an open door to comprehending Chinese social norms, customs and mentality.