Reasons for different Foreign Languages

Here are the reasons I can come up with for 11: Reasons being number of immigrants meaning an increased interest in learning it, and a high number of speakers worldwide.

Spanish: One of our two neighbors speak it, it is the most spoken language in our hemisphere and the 2nd in the world with 358 million speakers according to Encarta. Good use for people who wish to help people in poverty.

French: Canada's other official language, and our oldest ally's (France) official language. Good language for the Sciences and social work. Large African population when entering former French colonies before learning the local language.

Portuguese: sixth most spoken language in this hemisphere and 150 million in the world. Large Portuguese speaking population.

Russian: 5th most spoken language in the world. Spoken across eastern Europe and central Asia.

Japanese: 8th most spoken language in the world. Japan is highly advanced, large Japanese population in America.

German: 10th most spoken language. You gain some command over Dutch, Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian; 10th most spoken language in the world; it is the second most spoken science language after English; over 500,000 immigrants from Germany in the 2000 census.

Vietnamese: 9th most spoken language, 68 million speakers. You don't have to learn a new writing system. Huge number of immigrants.

Hindi: 4th most common language, 200 million speakers. Spoken in the second most populous country in the world, India.

Arabic: 8th most spoken language with 150 million speakers. Useful in today's world with the conflict with Islamist extremists in persuading the people to side with the free world. Spoken across North Africa and the Middle East. 25 countries. Definitely would be the most controversial on this list.

Chinese: Most commonly spoken language with 800 million speakers.

Italian: 19th most spoken language with 62 million, high number of immigrants. High amount of tourism. Many great thinkers.

Korean: 20th most spoken language with 60 million, high number of immigrants and a powerful economy.

I have chosen these because they are the languages that the most Americans would use in trade and travel and talking to immigrants, and what children of immigrants would be most likely to want to learn.