If you think about it, the choice of a second language can reveal much about the cultural and economic priorities of a generation. Recent data from the learning Conversation Exchange outlines which second languages are the most popular among U.S. generations: Generation Z, Millennials, Generation X, and Baby Boomers.
To create this study, the Conversation Exchange application collected data from 47,547 American users whose mother tongue is English and who wished to study a second language.
Across all generations, Spanish claims the top spot. This consistency can be explained by the significant influence of Hispanic culture within the U.S. and the practical benefits of Spanish in both personal and professional spheres. As a language spoken by hundreds of millions worldwide, Spanish is useful for commerce, business, travels and community relations. You can learn Spanish with our online classes!
French takes second place for all generations in the U.S, which can be explained by the appeal of vacations in France, the presence of the French community in New York and Los Angeles, or even the proximity of the francophone people in Quebec.
Generation Z, also known as Zoomers, is defined as people born from 1997 to 2012. For Generation Z, the typical European languages remain popular, with French and Japanese securing the second and third positions respectively.
However, this generation (like the Millennials) also shows a strong interest in Korean, which occupies the fourth spot, likely influenced by the global rise of K-pop and Korean dramas. Additionally, Mandarin Chinese makes an appearance, pointing to China's growing global economic influence and its impact on younger Americans' career considerations.
Millennials, also known as Generation Y, are defined as people born from 1981 to 1996. Millennials mirror Generation Z's top choices but with slightly different priorities.
Korean falls to fifth place, while Mandarin Chinese climbs higher, indicating this generation's focus on the economic and political narratives shaping the world. Their language choices suggest a blend of cultural appreciation and strategic career planning, recognizing China's role as a global powerhouse.
People from Generation X (or Gen X) are generally defined as people born from 1965 to 1980. Generation X shows a stronger inclination towards European languages, with Italian and German prominently featured alongside the usual suspects, Spanish and French. This preference might reflect both a cultural affinity and the economic conditions during their formative years, when Europe had a more pronounced influence on global affairs.
Interestingly, Chinese Mandarin still makes the list, although lower, reflecting early recognition of China's rising influence.
Baby boomers, often shortened to boomers, are the people born from 1946 to 1964 during the mid-20th century baby boom. For Baby Boomers, the top languages learned are closely aligned with traditional economic and diplomatic ties. German and Japanese still make the list, likely due to the post-World War II and Cold War eras when both countries were significant to U.S. interests.
This generation's choices are less diverse, emphasizing languages that have had long-standing significance in global affairs.
As each generation adapts to its unique global context, the languages they choose to learn serve as a lens through which to view changing priorities and values over time. But even if this study allows us to visualize the differences of interest among multiple generations, let’s not forget that everyone has a personal and unique reason for choosing a foreign language to learn. What’s yours?