Learning a second language can greatly improve your career prospects, a survey of 200 bilingual business people has concluded.

The survey, conducted by online language-learning firm Rosetta Stone, revealed that over three quarters of respondents had furthered their career prospects by speaking a second language.

The most commonly spoken languages were French (58 per cent), Spanish (47 per cent), German (31 per cent) and Italian (24 per cent).

Additionally, 71 per cent claimed that learning a second language had improved their communication skills making travel more enjoyable, while half of respondents said that languages had enhanced their social lives.

The survey also reveled that two thirds of participants would like to learn another language in the New Year.

Michael Lefante, Rosetta Stone UK: "As the world becomes more globalised, employers are placing increasing value on candidates who can speak additional languages."

Chinese Mandarin, French and Spanish jointly topped the poll of desirable languages to learn.

Michael Lefante, marketing manager of Rosetta Stone UK, said: "Being able to speak a second language has a number of benefits for the individual, both socially and psychologically.

"As the world becomes more globalised, employers are placing increasing value on candidates who can speak additional languages.

"These employees - who are in demand as they can communicate with clients, suppliers and colleagues abroad - find that they have more opportunities available to them."

Despite being proficient in a second language, 32 per cent of respondents still devote between one and five hours a week to language learning to improve their skills.

Although evening classes are a common method of language learning for 44 per cent, others are put off attending them because of time constraints (27 per cent) and inflexibility (15 per cent).

Seventy-one per cent of respondents are considering using online methods to learn an additional language in the New Year.