List of languages by number of worldwide speakers

Here is a look at the break down of people speaking some of the more popular languagesof the world.  

1. Mandarin: 982,000,000 native, 179,000,000 second language = 1,151,000,000 total 

2. English: Over 1,500,000,000 worldwide. 

3. French: 113 million “native and real speakers” (includes 64,473,140 French people), 250 million second language (worldwide including Africa and North Africa) = 363 million (as a total of first and additional language spoken) and up to 500 million total with significant knowledge of the language (2008). 

4. Spanish: Total of 417 million including second-language speakers (1999). 

5. Hindi: Standard Hindi 325,000,000; A total of 650,000,000 including Urdu and secondary speakers, does not include Maithili. All Hindi dialects are mutually intelligible. 

6. Russian: 165 million native, 110 million second language = 275 million total 

7. Arabic: 246 million(Encarta estimate) 

8. Portuguese: 215 million native, 20 million second language = 235 million total 

9. German: 101 million native (88 million Standard German, 5 million Swiss German, 8 million Austrian German), 60 million second language = 214 million worldwide. 

10. Bengali: 196 million native (2004 CIA) (includes 14 million Chittagonian and 10.3 million Sylheti). 

11. Persian (Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian): ca. 72 million; sometimes taken to include all of Southwestern Iranian (Luri, Tati, and other); ca. 72 million second language, total ca. 144 million total 

12. Japanese: 130 million native, 2 million second language = 132 million total 

13. Turkish: 74 million (2006 estimate) + 15 million second language = 89 million
 
14. Italian: around 62 million people. 

15. Dutch: 25 million people.

٭ It must be said that Ter Sami, which is a language from Uralic family in Russia (Murmansk Oblast), has the lowest population in the world: JUST 6 PEOPLE!!!

Learning a foreign language is easily done by those with normal intelligence. So, don’t worry if you have an “aptitude” for learning a foreign language. Desire is all you need along with the learning tools.

(Shahab Mahdavi) 

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But which language should I study?

Like most university students who study another language, you too may want to make Spanish your choice. It is, after all, the second language of our nation and the language spoken by principal trading partners around the world. But you may also want to study or add a language that will equip you with a dimension that distinguishes you from many others: 

Or, consider French, the language learned by those interested in French Art and History and their integral links to American culture; by those wanting to visit American tourists’ favorite destinations, from Provence to the Alps, from Paris to the wine country; by those wanting to experience life la francaise, which includes month-long holidays, an inordinate time of eating, drinking, and speaking of politics (a refreshing change in a Dilbertesque era of corporate downsizing and mega-mergers).

Or consider German, the language of the friendly economic giant of Europe, the European country with the deepest and most extensive ties to U.S. commerce; of the genius in music, literature, philosophy, and science (Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Wagner, Mahler, Goethe, Thomas Mann, Hesse, Kafka, Luther, Kant, Hegel, Nietzsche, Marx, Freud, and Einstein); of Austria and most of Switzerland; of some of the worst outlaws and some of the most poignant victims of the 20th century--in short, the language of the culture which, if only for the spectacle of its contradictions, has extraordinary significance in the modern age. 

Or consider Russian, the language spoken by millions of people from Eastern Europe to the Pacific Ocean; by those interested in international affairs and business opportunities in the East; by those interested in science and mathematics where Russia still leads.

And then there’s Portuguese, an official language in countries on five continents, spoken from Mozambique to Macao; it is the language of Brazil, which has the eighth largest economy in the world and the second largest economy in the Americas; it is studied by those interested in making connections between the Americas, either in culture or in business; by those interested in the history of European empire-building and its effects in Africa, Asia, and South America.

(Shahab Mahdavi) 

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Why study foreign languages?

Imagine being able to go to another country and be able to understand a map, talk to a cab driver, or even discuss a poem. Imagine making connections with people across the barriers of language, culture, and history. Imagine the ways your personality and life might change when you meet and communicate with people whose cultural background differs from yours. Imagine the difference you might make in the lives of others, inside Iran and out, who are reaching out across the world to you. Imagine the difference those people might make to you.

Many students come to college looking for classes that will help them build a successful and interesting career as teachers, business people, communicators, scientists, etc. Others want to grow intellectually, to change the world, or to change themselves. That is why I say a new language brings you a new life.

Here are fifteen things studying a new language might do for you

Language study…

1. broadens your experiences; expands your view of the world

2. encourages critical reflection on the relation of language and culture, language and 
thought; fosters an understanding of the interrelation of language and human nature 
 
3. develops your intellect; teaches you how to learn  
 
4. teaches and encourages respect for other peoples  

5. contributes to cultural awareness and literacy, such as knowledge of original texts  

6. builds practical skills (for travel or commerce or as a tool for other disciplines)  

7. improves the knowledge of your own language through comparison and contrast with 
the foreign language 

8. exposes you to modes of thought outside of your native language 
 
9. a sense of relevant past, both cultural and linguistic  

10. balances content and skill (rather than content versus skill)  
 
11. expands opportunities for meaningful leisure activity (travel, reading, viewing foreign language films)  

12. contributes to achievements of national goals, such as economic development or national security  

13. contributes to the creation of your personality  

14. enables the transfer of training (such as learning a second foreign language) 

15. preserves (or fosters) a country’s image as a cultured nation

(Shahab Mahdavi)  

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Introduction (En)

Hi. 
During my teaching career in many schools and institutes, I have seen many students who have difficulty with learning English. That’s why I have decided to start writing a weblog about how we can overcome foreign language learning problems.
Besides this, in order to promote students` knowledge about other languages, I have decided to translate some of my posts to German and Dutch. I hope I can encourage talented students to learn these two languages.
Due to my other proficiency in material science and engineering, I write some of my posts about this field. I hope that it would help high school students to get some more information about this engineering field. 

Please send your comments about each post but try to make them clean as this weblog is an educational one.

(Shahab Mahdavi) 

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