7 Smart Questions to Ask Yourself Before Picking a Language to Learn
Because Let’s Be Honest, You Don’t Want Another Abandoned Duolingo Streak
Raise your hand if you’ve ever watched a K-drama or scrolled French TikTok and thought, “I’m going to learn this language. Tomorrow.”
Yeah. Me too.
Learning a new language is an exciting, life-changing adventure. But before you throw your money at apps and textbooks, let’s take a moment and do a vibe check. Here are 7 smart (and slightly amusing) questions to ask yourself before choosing your target language.
Me to Thai….look at me now
1. Why Do You Want to Learn This Language?
Is it love? A career move? Wanderlust? Or did your favorite actor say something dreamy in Spanish, and now you're ready to commit?
If your reason is strong (family, travel, work), you're more likely to keep going when the grammar gets wild. If it’s more of a whim, that’s okay too—just know what you’re getting into.
Pro tip: If your only reason is "it sounds cool," pick a language with lots of learning resources (Spanish, French, etc.) to keep the momentum going.
2. Where Do You See Yourself Using It?
Think realistically: Will you be visiting a country where this language is spoken? Hoping to work remotely there? Just want to flirt on vacation?
Examples:
Planning a Europe backpacking trip? Try Spanish, Italian, or French.
Obsessed with East Asia? Korean, Japanese, or Mandarin might be your move.
Pro tip: Matching your language choice to your dream destination helps you stay motivated (and gives you an excuse to plan a trip).
3. How Much Time Are You Willing to Commit?
Not all languages are created equal (at least for English speakers).
Romance languages like Spanish and Italian? Generally quicker to pick up.
Arabic, Korean, Japanese, and Thai? Beautiful—and beautifully complex.
Commitment scale:
Weekend fling: Spanish, Esperanto (yes, it exists)
Long-term relationship: Korean, German,Thai
Lifetime marriage: Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese Chinese
Choose a language that fits your bandwidth.
4. Are You Cool With Sounding Ridiculous for a Bit?
Because you will. And that’s okay.
Learning to speak a new language means trying out unfamiliar sounds and possibly butchering a few tones or rolling your R’s into chaos. That’s part of the journey.
Shy learner tip: Start with a language that uses the same alphabet (like Spanish or Dutch) if new characters intimidate you.
5. What’s Your End Goal?
Be specific:
Want to hold a conversation with locals?
Watch anime or K-dramas without subtitles?
Add it to your resume?
Knowing your "why" keeps you focused when you want to quit. (Because you will—at least once.)
6. What’s Your Budget?
Language learning can be free...or not.
Investment: Private tutors, language schools.
Heads up: Some languages have way more free content than others. Spanish learners, you're living the dream. Icelandic folks, good luck.
7. Does This Language Light You Up?
This one’s about the feels.
If a language excites you—even if it terrifies you a little—that’s a good sign. Learning takes time, and that spark will keep you coming back when the motivation dips.
If it makes you smile, go for it. Even if you’re not sure why.
Which Language Might Fit You?
Here are some quick personality matches to help:
If you want adventure & challenge:
Mandarin Chinese
Arabic
Korean
If you want romance & practicality:
Spanish
French
Italian
If you want community & global reach:
Spanish
English (if not your native language)
Portuguese
Just for Fun
When looking at languages to learn (to go after that polyglot title), I typed in Google Translate “My name is Minni. I love you.” I then clicked through every language translation available and picked the language I loved the script for. AN now….
I’m learning a secret language. Secret, as in, I never told anyone. I’m currently only learning how to write in this language. Why? Because I think it’s gorgeous. I have little interest in learning how to speak yet another language. I don’t actively study, but it was a fun way to pick a new language.
Pro tip: If language learning is just a hobby it is totally ok to focus on only one aspect of said language. Just know you may have to dive deeper if you decide to be advanced.
Choose With Intention
Learning a language isn’t just about flashcards and grammar drills. It’s about culture, mindset, growth, and you.
Ask yourself these questions and answer them honestly. Your future self will thank you—in your new language, no less.
Got a language in mind? Let us know in the comments, and let’s cheer each other on!
The way you live your everyday life has just as much impact on your ability to stay motivated, focused, and consistent.