Top 7 Foreign Languages to Learn Besides English to Increase Job Opportunities

In the context of increasingly deep international integration by 2025, English remains an essential "passport"; however, to truly stand out and expand international job opportunities, possessing a third language is becoming a huge competitive advantage.

This article from Jobcadu will explore the top 7 foreign languages to learn besides English, based on analysis from reputable sources such as Hotcourses Vietnam and EF Education First, helping you make smart choices to increase income and conquer international employment.

Why Should You Learn a Foreign Language Besides English?

In the context of globalization, English has become a basic requirement, but is not enough to create a competitive advantage. More than 70% of international jobs currently require at least 2 foreign languages (British Council 2025). According to HR reports and studies from international educational organizations (EF EPI), workers who use 2 or more foreign languages often have:

• More job options in FDI enterprises, multinational corporations

• A 15-25% increase in opportunities for coordination, management, and market bridging roles (Hotcourses Vietnam)

• Better income and career advancement paths compared to the average (38% higher than average)

In Vietnam, the wave of investment from China, Japan, South Korea, Germany... is significantly increasing the demand for personnel who know a third foreign language from 2024–2025.

Top 7 Foreign Languages to Learn Besides English (Updated 2025)

1. Chinese (Mandarin)

• Suitable for: logistics, import-export, e-commerce, manufacturing

• Reason to learn: China continues to be a major trading partner, many FDI enterprises set up factories in Vietnam

• Note: Chinese is easy to pronounce for Vietnamese but requires time to practice Chinese characters

2. Japanese

• Suitable for: IT, engineering, mechanics, automotive, manufacturing

• Reason to learn: stable working environment, long-term personnel demand

• Note: often requires N2–N3 level for specialized positions

3. Korean

• Suitable for: engineering, manufacturing, translation, entertainment

• Advantages: logical Hangul script, easy for beginners to access

• Trend: Korean investment in Vietnam continues to remain high

4. German

• Suitable for: engineering, mechanics, healthcare, automation

• Outstanding advantage: opportunities to study and work in Europe

• Note: difficult grammar, suitable for serious long-term learners

5. French

• Suitable for: diplomacy, NGOs, education, aviation

• Strength: presence in many international organizations

• Lower competition compared to Chinese, Japanese, and Korean

6. Spanish

• Suitable for: tourism, international business, services

• Advantages: relatively friendly grammar, large language community

7. Arabic

• Suitable for: oil and gas, construction, high-tech engineering

• Characteristics: niche market, high demand but good benefits

• Not suitable if you only want to work in a stable domestic environment

3 Steps to Choose the Right Foreign Language for You and Your Career Path

Step 1: Identify Industry & Market

Ask yourself 2 questions:

• What is your dream industry?

  • IT, engineering, manufacturing, logistics → prioritize Chinese, Japanese, German

  • Banking, aviation, diplomacy, international organizations → French and Arabic are golden choices

  • Marketing, tourism, international e-commerce → Spanish and Korean are very “hot” jobs

• Where do you want to work in the next 3-5 years?

  • Asia → Chinese, Japanese, Korean

  • Europe → German, French, Spanish

  • Middle East & oil and gas → Arabic

Step 2: Assess Time & Learning Ability

If you are busy and want to see quick results:

• Korean and Spanish are the two easiest foreign languages to learn besides English for beginners (only 600-750 hours to reach working proficiency).

• Chinese is easy to pronounce for Vietnamese, but requires practice with Chinese characters.

• Japanese and German have more complex grammar, but online learning materials are extremely abundant.

A tip from JobCadu: just 30 minutes a day with Duolingo + HelloTalk + that language's Netflix can help you communicate basic after 6 months.

Step 3: Long-term deciding factor: Do you really enjoy it?

A language only brings value when you maintain consistent study for 6–12 months. The biggest motivation to learn a foreign language is joy.

• Love K-pop, K-drama → Korean will “suck” you into studying every day

• Like anime, sushi, disciplined culture → Japanese will become a passion

• Passionate about Spanish films, football, South American travel → Spanish is the true love

Quick Takeaways – 7 Key Points You Need to Remember Immediately

• Knowing a third language = average salary increase of 38% (EF 2025)

• Top 3 hottest in Vietnam 2025: Chinese – Japanese – Korean

• Easiest to learn: Korean > Spanish > German

• Highest salaries: Arabic > German > Japanese

• 30 minutes/day is enough to achieve working proficiency in 6-12 months

• Multilingual personnel are in serious shortage – you are the golden candidate!

• Don't wait – start today to catch the trend of 2026-2030

Don't Let English Limit Your Career

In 2025, the advantage lies not in knowing an additional foreign language, but in choosing the right foreign language that matches your industry – market – personal ability.

Whether you choose Chinese to conquer the billion-people market, Japanese for a stable high-paying job, or Korean to study while “binge-watching” K-drama – each choice is a wide-open door to your dream future.

Take action today! Just 30 minutes a day for 6 months can completely change your career.

At Jobcadu, we are offering:

• Thousands of multilingual jobs with salaries from 20-80 million

• Free personalized foreign language learning path consultation

• The latest scholarship list for studying abroad in Germany/France/South Korea

👉 Explore foreign language-required jobs on JobCadu to see the market demand before deciding to learn!