I've found Python 3.x to be the best language to learn programming. It is a dynamic programming language meaning that type-checking is done at run time instead of compile time. In Python, types don't need to be explicitly declared and conversions can be inferred. It's syntax is not only straight-forward and fairly concise, but also highly dynamic and weakly-typed. The keywords used by the compiler use plain English which makes abstract ideas easier to comprehend for the beginner.
This is in contrast to a language like Java which is a static programming language which is "strongly-typed." Types must be explicitly declared and conversions are also explicit in nature. Java is a great introductory language to static-programming while Python is a great introductory language to dynamic-programming. Below is a comparison of Python 3.x and Java.
'''
Some Python 3.x Code
'''
class Bicycle:
def __init__(startCadence, startSpeed, startGear):
self.gear = startGear
self.cadence = startCadence
self.spped = startSpeed
def getCadence():
return self.cadence
/**
* Some Java Code
*/
public class Bicycle {
private int cadence;
private int gear;
private int speed;
public Bicycle(int startCadence, int startSpeed, int startGear) {
gear = startGear;
cadence = startCadence;
speed = startSpeed;
}