In the last decade, the ease of global communication and overseas travel has brought the rest of the world closer to home. Europe is now just a couple of hours away and the low price airfares has made a holiday or weekend break abroad more affordable than ever. Employers too increasingly prefer candidates with language skills, as the internet helps create a truly global economy. Is it therefore any wonder more and more people are taking another look at learning a new language?

If you always felt that language learning took a lot of time, however, or would involve a mountain of books or long dark drives through dreary weather to a cold classroom, think again. There is now a broad range of material available to get learners started that will fit around their lifestyle.

Let’s look first at which languages are more (and less) popular than previously. It might come as no surprise to discover that Spanish is now the most popular language in the UK, followed by French (previously first) and then Italian and German tied in 3rd place. And of course, with more travellers now keen to explore off the beaten track, slightly more obscure languages, such as Arabic, Greek and Thai, are definitely becoming more attractive.

For any learner, the next step is to assess how fluent they want to be in the language (or languages) they have chosen. For example, will they simply want to buy a beer or order a meal on holiday, would they like to be able to communicate on the phone, or are they at some point going to be involved in business meetings abroad?

Once they’ve decided which language and to what level they wish to learn, the range of teaching options available can seem bewildering. So let's take a look at some of the different ways of learning a new language, and the pros and cons of each method.

1. Intensive one to one tuition
This is a fairly high-pressure approach that is sometimes not suitable for a total beginner. The student has unrelenting exposure to the language and it requires immense concentration.

This method is preferred where a person has a specific requirement; i.e. to be speaking the language in two weeks time for a vital business meeting.

It is relatively expensive, costing between £800-£1500 per week.

2. Evening Classes/Group Tuition
This represents a more cost-effective way of taking a face-to-face language teaching option.

There are a number of publications that can guide learners through the choices here, and a good first step is to ring the Local Education Authority for details.

Charges vary according to how many lessons are taken and the number of people in the group.

Basic language classes provided by a Local University or College could work out as cheaply as £50 for a 6 week course, whilst private language training companies can charge up to £30 per 45-minute lesson.

Group tuition is most effective when a group have similar requirements and a long-term rather than short-term need for proficiency. Problems occur when there are a group of students at disparate levels with different needs as it is difficult to establish a cohesive, motivated group.

3. Self-study
Self-study courses, such as those provided by Linguaphone, offer a flexible and cost effective approach to language training. Courses are available on a variety of both traditional and modern media such as CD and CD-ROM.

The beauty of self-study is that it allows the student to progress at their own pace, fitting in their learning whenever it is most convenient for them. Whilst this can lead to motivational problems during long-term study, Linguaphone, for example, also offers a back-up tutorial service to enable learners to get help with problems and assess their progress.

The final thing to remember is that language learning, like every other new skill, is not necessarily predictable. Progress can be erratic so it is always best for learners to have as much help and additional resource at hand as possible. Finding out about the culture and the people of the country they intend to visit will keep motivation high for example watching a film, listening to the radio or trying to read a book.

Whatever the language and method used, there’s no doubt that more and more of us are recognising that having another language at our command can open up a whole new world of opportunities, whether it's making the most of a next holiday abroad or advancing in our chosen career.