I’ve always had a passion for languages. I have a Bachelor of Arts in foreign languages and I have taught English as a foreign language for many years in both South and Central America. Spanish is one of my favorite languages, and it is certainly the easiest to learn.
There is something intensely satisfying about being able to communicate with someone who would otherwise be inaccessible. Even if you’re not very good at a language, just making the effort can help break the ice, and make the experience in a foreign country a hundred times more fun.
Learning a language is not that hard when you’re a kid. It does however get more problematic the older we get. Studies have shown that to become 100% fluent in a language, it should be started as a child (as adults rarely learn the difficulties of grammatical nuances). The younger a child can start their second language, the better.
Furthermore, once you have learned one additional language, it is easier to pick up more, especially when they are within the same etymological grouping, like Latin based languages. I have been close to fluent in six languages throughout my life (and I have forgotten almost as many!).
Of all European languages, the absolute best to start with is Spanish. It is one of the few languages that is 100% phonetic, so once you learn the sounds that each letter represents, you will be able to pronounce it correctly. It is also a lot closer than English to languages like French, Italian, and Portuguese, so it makes a great gateway language!
The curriculum and lesson format that I have used over the years has proven to be very effective. It includes all the basic elements of language: oral, written, listening, translation, grammar, and vocabulary. Each class is split to include all these factors, ending with games that are designed to reinforce the vocabulary that is learned (we all learn better when we’re having fun).