I got at least the basics of Dutch, English, Afrikaans, German, French and Japanese down.
In 2024 I want to broaden my knowledge about languages by learning the basics (shopping, directions, describing my day) of a new language every month.
What languages should I pick? Feel free to suggest any!
The list so far
Jan: Esperanto
Feb: Spanish
Mar: Italian?
Apr: Russian
May: other slavic language maybe?
Jun: Finnish?
Jul:
Aug:
Sep:
Okt: Hebrew
Nov: Arabic?
Dec:
Pragmatic as I am, I’d go with languages of countries accessible to you (in the sense that it’s not unthinkable to go there for vacations).
You could also go by most spoken language, I think: Mandarin, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian (probably not in order)
Or maybe choose languages that you know people around you are speaking (extended family, neighbours, colleagues…)
Otherwise I find Hungarian, Finnish and Hebrew fascinating.
Or maybe simply a matter of taste, learning the languages you like the sound of better…
Spanish… is a idiom beautiful… i speak spanish from 1995…
The language of your significant other.
It is always impressive what people can memorize,
(and I am nearly jealous of your achievements and goals)
but think about the deluge of juicy emotions washing over you when communicating with your beloved.
Instead of an intellectual exercise, you will have a life to live.
Spanish, russian and hebrew are indeed on the list I got so far. Russian and Hebrew are languages I don’t know much about, so I am eager to explore and broaden my language spectrum. Spanish is on the list because it has been on my wishlist for far too long.
Finnish is an interesting addition! Arabic is one I will keep in mind as well.
Thanks! Spanish is indeed on the list 
Dutch already got that mastered, but thanks for the thoughtful reply!
I’d think about what you’d actually use this information for.
I learned some of the basics of several languages (Italian, Turkish, Czech, …) in order to write some computer programs that understand them. This was successful. But I only learned the grammar and some common filler words, so it’s almost useless for speaking in these countries.
I learned Spanish and Portuguese in enough detail to have arbitrary conversations, and I used this when travelling to Mexico, Cape Verde, Spain, Portugal, Colombia, Brazil, Guatemala and Nicaragua. This has been super useful, but I only had capacity to learn 2 languages in this way—not 12.
I know someone who is an expert on learning languages, and taught herself to a sufficient level in some very different languages in order to learn about languages. A linguist at university might do the same.
If you can articular your actual goals, I/we can give you more targeted advice. I see comments above assuming implicitly that your goals are a variety of things.
This is pretty much my main goal. Some languages might have additional goals, but in the end I want to learn the basics to find out how different languages work.
Dutch, German, French, English and Afrikaans are all unique, but knowing one becomes a stepping stone for the others. When I learned Japanese I was struck by the immense difference. Not only in the language itself, but in the expressions behind it.
I believe ones language is formed to ones culture, so in reverse, I believe you need to experience the language if you want to fully experience a culture.
Indonesian:
Latin:
Greek:
I’d suggest a Slavic language, another Romance language, a Turkic language, a Finno-Ugric language, language(s) in other scripts, etc.
Then if that’s going well, try some others like:
I suggest you to become an expert in your mother tongue or any one language then go for the other. I have a personal experience related to this. I know basics of 25 different languages. I can’t speak none of them. I know spanish since May 2017. I can’t speak it properly. So choose only one language for 180 days or 365 days. Learn it by heart. Be an expert or at least pass the intermediate plateau.
If you try Finnish, you’ll need more than the 4 months you’ve reserved in your calendar 
but as a language in itself it’s beautiful.
An example from a Finnish book of psychology:
“…Sen sijaan primitiivisten defenssien runsas
ja jäykkä käyttäminen kuvastaa mielen tasapainon
ylläpidon taantumista tai kehittymättömyyttä,
eräänlaista viimeistä toimivaa puolustusmuuria
ennen mielen tasapainon vakavaa järkkymistä.
Kehittymättömätkin defenssit voivat muodostaa
pitävän puolustuksen ihmisen hyvinvoinnille.
Toisaalta ahdistus voi olla oireena defenssitasapainon
murtumisesta, mutta hyvin “korkealla”
tasolla ilman huolta mielenterveyden vakavasta
epätasapainosta…”
According to ChatGPT this translates to:
“…Instead, the abundant and rigid use of primitive defenses reflects a regression or underdevelopment in maintaining mental balance, a kind of last functioning defense wall before a serious disruption of mental equilibrium. Even underdeveloped defenses can form a solid defense for a person’s well-being. On the other hand, anxiety can be a symptom of a breakdown in defense balance, but at a very ‘high’ level without concern for serious mental health imbalance…”
Easy-peasy…isn’t it?
Latin, ancient Greek, Sanskrit. Languages of culture
I didn’t think of Sanskrit, but it’s also a fascinating one.
Maybe sign language? I did one year in high school and it was really interesting how you have to think differently. Plus it really drives home the point that body language is part of the language. And it is NOT the same between languages, even the oral ones.