What are some of the easiest languages to learn in college?

Hey folks, I'm interested in expanding my language skills in college but I'm a little overwhelmed with all the options. What languages would you say are the easiest to pick up? I took three years of Spanish in high school but I'm open to starting something new.

The easiest language for you to learn can depend quite a bit on your own native language or any other languages you already know—since you've had three years of Spanish, Romance languages like Italian, Portuguese, or French might be an easier transition due to the similarities in sentence structure and vocabulary. That could be a good place to start.

But expanding a bit, here's a short list of languages generally considered to be more accessible for English speakers:

1. Spanish: You've already taken some Spanish and it's widely spoken, making it highly practical. Its pronunciation rules are straightforward and it shares a lot of vocabulary with English.

2. Italian: Italian is also a Romance language and shares many similarities with Spanish. It has a straightforward phonetic system, which makes reading and pronunciation easier for beginners.

3. Dutch: Dutch is a Germanic language, like English, and has similar sentence structure and some vocabulary. Many people find it easier to pick up than German.

4. Swedish: Swedish has a logical grammar system and also shares some vocabulary with English. It could be a good choice if you're interested in a Scandinavian language.

5. Esperanto: Designed to be easy to learn, Esperanto is a constructed international auxiliary language. It's relatively simple in terms of both vocabulary and grammar.

Remember, your interest in the language and culture will also play a big role in your motivation and thus speed in picking it up. So it's worth considering what you're most drawn to and excited about learning, even if it doesn't seem like the 'easiest' option.