These are 3 languages children must learn to better their future

desmond frimpong

July 16, 2018 7:25 PM

By 2027 language skills are expected to add up to £500 billion in the economy.

Which language will you encourage your child to learn to benefit them in a decade down the line?

History shows that Spanish, given the number of countries around the world that speak it.

But recent research denies it preferring French, German and Mandarin.

The Centre for Economics and Business Research and Opinion, in partnership with Heathrow Airport, surveyed 2001 parents with children under the age of 18, alongside an additional survey of more than 500 business leaders across the UK.

45% of parents said their children don’t speak a second language, while 19% said they were not interested in learning a new language.

A hand few “One in ten” said their children found it too difficult.

French, German and Mandarin are the three languages that children should currently learn to benefit their life in ten years’ time, the findings of research.

Antonella Sorace, a professor of Developmental Linguistics at Edinburgh University and Director of Bilingualism Matters, said: “This research demonstrates how important language learning is to the UK economy, and shows that many more doors are opened to people who learn a second language as children.

desmond frimpong