French is spoken by more than 250 million people around the world and is an official language of many international organizations, including NATO, the European Union, the United Nations and the European Council. It is the world’s second most influential language, following English.
More than 52 million people in the United States speak Spanish, making it the second most widely used language in the nation. Worldwide, more than 417 million people speak Spanish. It is the official language of 22 countries, and it is an official working language of the European Union and the United Nations.
More than 1 billion people speak Mandarin, the official Chinese dialect of China and Taiwan and an official language of the United Nations. Economic ties between China and the United States are growing rapidly. Those who have knowledge of Mandarin — as well as Chinese culture, values and history — will be able to contribute to the United States’ economic, political, cultural and social well-being.