DR. WALLACE: I'm in the 9th grade, and starting next semester, I'm going to start taking a foreign language. I'm really excited about learning a new language. Our school offers Spanish and French, but I don't know which one to take. My parents are hoping I choose French because one of my grandmothers was born in France. I want to take the language that will help me the most when I'm older and out of college. I'm leaning toward Spanish because it might help me when I get a job. I'm also wondering; is English is now the most spoken language in the world? — Becky, New York, N.Y.

BECKY: Mandarin Chinese is spoken by 17.3 percent of the people on our planet, making it the number one language, followed by English (8.4 percent), Hindi (7.9 percent), Spanish (6.9 percent) and Russian (4.9 percent).

According to the American Council on Teaching of Foreign Languages, Spanish is the most popular foreign language taken by middle and high school students (64.5 percent), followed by French (22.3 percent) and German (6.1 percent), but French has been fading significantly as a spoken language, with only 2.2 percent of the world's population speaking it.

Still, French is an important language for North Americans. It's the official language of our Canadian neighbors in the province of Quebec, and more than 8 million speak it.

Of course, Spanish is also an important language on this continent, since our Mexican neighbors to the south speak Spanish. It would be wonderful if you could be fluent in both French and Spanish, but if it has to be one or the other, I think Spanish would be more beneficial to begin with, and then you can learn French later.

I DOUBT GIRLS ARE ASKING BOYS OUT

DR. WALLACE: I read all this stuff about girls asking guys out, but I would never have the courage to be the first to make a move on a guy. My girlfriend wouldn't either. I know some bold girls are being aggressive when it comes to dating, but I'm not so sure it's an "epidemic." You must receive a lot of letters on this subject. Are lots of girls really doing the asking these days? I doubt it. — Nameless, McComb, Miss.

NAMELESS: Girls are definitely becoming more assertive about asking guys out. In a Seventeen magazine survey, 58 percent of the girls who responded said they had approached a boy who interested them. And 78 percent of the boys said they had been approached by a girl. Please read the following email. I think you will find it interesting.

DON'T WAIT; CALL NOW

DR. WALLACE: I'm addressing this letter to all the high school guys out there who are too shy to ask a girl for a date. I represent the millions of intelligent, fun-loving girls who spend endless dateless weekends because guys are too shy to call for a date or are too afraid the girl will say no! Just think of all the fun and excitement you and your female date will never have just because you don't ask. Even when a girl says no, it doesn't mean never. It could mean, "not now, but call me later."

Trust me when I say that it's a big rush when a girl is asked out. Boys, give it a try. Pick up the telephone and dial that number that could change your life ... for the better. We will be waiting for your call. Yes, some of us will ask you out, but down deep, we still want you to do the asking. Don't wait another minute. Call now! — Nameless, Sidney, Ohio.

NAMELESS: Shy guys need all the moral support they can get. Thanks for telling it like it is. Too bad you didn't enclose your telephone number, or your phone would be ringing off the hook with date offers from shy guys all across the country.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. E-mail him at [email protected]. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.