I'm 15. Which language should I learn? And why?
Python. It is a straightforward language and is also a general-purpose language which means it can be used to build just about anything. Reasons why you should start with Python.It is beginner friendly. It’s easy to use, very flexible(No specific/ one way to doing something) has a lot of libraries already made and installed for you to use, and what better fun is there when a few lines of code gives you an awesome program right? ;)Wide Developer Community. Any question you have has been asked before. On StackOverflow[1] (A question and answer site for programmers), Python questions are one of the most likely to get answered. And there are so many numerous very detailed tutorials for beginners which breakdown the language for you the best ways possible. Even on Github[2] (a site where users upload projects that can be accessible by other users), Python is one of the most used languages over there.Career Opportunities: With Python, there is no limit to career opportunities. A lot of sites have been built using Python and Django(A web framework of Python) like Google(Python and other languages), Dropbox(Python and Go), Pinterest(Solely Python), Instagram(being a teenager, this seems cool yh?) and many more.Salary: Based on info at Angel List[3] , Python is the 2nd most demanding skill and also the skill with the highest average salary offered. Salary Range-[$43K - $135K], Average Salary-[$94, 053].By the way, This awesome platform you’re on was also written in Python ;)Ready To Learn Python? Click here[4] or here[5] .Footnotes[1] Stack Overflow - Where Developers Learn, Share, & Build Careers[2] Build software better, together[3] IT & Tech Recruitment, Job Matching & Career Development | Gooroo™[4] Learn Python Online - A Guide | Codementor[5] Welcome to Python.org
Can I still learn many languages at 15?
If you’re going to let a “2 to 13” age limit myth stop you from putting in the work, of course no, you can’t.If you’re going to put in the work, of course you can. You may have trouble having a perfect accent, there may be a few elusive syntactic constructions that are just not reliable, but you can become as fluent as you are willing to put in the work for, and even accents can be fixed with hard work on accent coaching (how do you think British actors like Hugh Laurie can sound exactly like Americans?).Two hours a week will not get you there, though; you will need a lot more work, and some of it will be hard and frustrating, and you definitely need both immersion and work with good instructors.My brother, a native speaker of Russian and highly fluent speaker of English with some French and Spanish, started learning Japanese at the age of 30 and by 35 was functionally fluent (can read newspapers and even poetry, work with clients in Japan, and hang out with Japanese friends). He almost certainly has an accent when he speaks Japanese, but he doesn’t let that stop him from having immense rewards. My psycholinguistics professor in undergrad learned six languages after puberty that he spoke without an accent.It doesn’t matter what your age is. What matters is time and motivation.
Is 15 too late to learn a second language?
It is a pity that you are rejudiced against French, German and Spanish, [I've found all three very useful] as you would have found school classes [which I presume began at age 11, as they do in British high schools] a very good grounding - by now you would be well into one or two of those as your second and possibly third languages, and it would be easier for you to take on Russian as a fourth. That said, it is NEVER too late to start language learning. And Russian is indeed very useful, especially when you are in the Moscow metro. You can have a look at some basic Russian here free: www.bbc.co.uk/languages Regarding Rosetta stone, it is mostly a vocab learning tool and overpriced for what it provides; I understand that it is very poor as far as grammar goes. You would be miuch better off buying a cheaper course AND a good grammar book and dictionary. Just make sure that the course you buy has several CDs, as listening as much as you can is very important. After all - babies learn languages by listening - they can't read or do written exercises! I don't understand your objection to languages which many people speak/learn - language has one basic use - to communicate. The more people who speak the languages you know, the more people you can communicate with.
Is it better to start learning multiple languages now while I'm 15 or when I'm older?
Do it now. As someone who has a parent that can speak multiple languages that once offered me lessons, just do it.I’m 14 now, but if I regret ANYTHING in my life, it would be not taking Spanish lessons when my dad offered them to me when I was 4.Sure, I’m taking classes now, but I could be learning my third language if I had learned Spanish when I was younger…It’s also a proven fact that learning them while you’re younger is more beneficial and you can learn it easier. So do it now, especially if your school offers classes. It will give you advantage over others when looking for jobs and colleges/universities.If you need any websites that may help you, tell me what language and I could help you look for it.Good luck!
Is learning languages easier for teenagers than it is for adults? (I'm 15)
The answer is yes and no. I spoke 5 languages at the aged of 15 and now I am teaching 4 languages to teenagers and adults. Yes, because you have more times than adults and less commitments in life. You could easily study 2-3 hours a day for a language and master a new language within 3 years. A student of mine who was 16 when he started learning Chinese and he was able to hold a basic conversation with me after a few months of study. He has a clear vision and wanted to master Chinese and Japanese at the aged of 20 so he could be a senator in his home country. No, sometimes teenagers might not be able to pick up a language learning easily because they are not interested in the language at school. Language learning is a compulsory subject in year 7 and 8 when I was teaching at a high school, many students dislike the subject because they felt that they were forced to do the subject and it did not benefit them in life. In contrast, adults could learn and speak a new language easily within 3 months because they have a clear vision and a language learning goal. They know the fact that languages help them to gain a lifelong skill to have better job opportunities and a better standing in life! I have taught many mature students and they could easily speak the language within a few weeks of study. To sum up, if you are interested in learning a language at the aged of 15 ( now ), you should start now because it takes time to learn and master a language. Many mature students of mine often told me that they wish to learn a new language at the young age. So, it is your call if you want to gain a lifelong skill. Feel free to ask me questions, I'd happy to answer them for you. I hope this helps.
Is it too late for me to learn french?
No, it's not too late for you to start! Certainly, there's some truth to the idea that children pick things up more fully and more quickly than adults. But that doesn't mean that adults can't pick things up very quickly and very fully! My word, in the world of work you're expected to learn new things all the time. Many adults learn new languages at any age. Also, if you're already trilingual, you'll probably find it a breeze however old you are, because there is research to suggest that once you've learnt one foreign language, it's much easier to learn another.
If I want to be an astronaut, should I learn Russian, Chinese, Indian, or Japanese?
Most astronauts are in their 30s or 40s when they go to space, so if you're in the US and 15 years old you shouldn't toss the baby out with the bathwater. The fact that NASA doesn't have shuttles now doesn't mean they won't have manned spacecraft in 20 years. If you want to learn a second language, learn whatever's available at your high school, and if you want to, learn Russian in your spare time. Learning a second language makes it easier to learn a third. Be sure to keep your grades up, take challenging math and science classes, and get into the habit of exercising. If you become the type of person who doesn't feel right if you don't go jogging or running frequently, that will pay off for your whole life whether you go to space or not. Maybe it would be a good idea to join a track team. Most astronauts have a military background, and if piloting is something you're interested in, the military is the best way to get experience there. So that's something to consider. Not all astronauts are from the military though.