Programming languages -- point me in the right direction

[rickjames]

C still lives!

Seriously though, if you go through University they will start you out with either C++ or Java. I used C/C++ extensively during school, but if I were to steer someone to one language I would have to say Java. It is way easier to build user interfaces in it then C++, and when you build a program it can be compiled to run on any computer. Plus the compilers and tools for it are usually free. JMO.