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What static language would you recommend? I figure the choices are basically Java or C#. Of the two, I'd likely suggest that Java will be easier only because I think beginners might find .Net a little large to dive into. But I wouldn't call Java a particular compact language that would be good for teaching someone to think like a programmer. What do you think?
The worst language to teach someone as a first language has to be Java. It also might be the worst language to teach someone as a second language.
But, I still can't come up with a static language that I'd want to teach someone as a first language. C# would be a good choice, but I don't know how much success a beginner would have with .Net. Typescript is hard to debug unless you know Javascript. I wouldn't wish C++ as a first languge upon anyone. Haskell seems like it would be very frustrating for a beginner. Swift might be okay if they really badly wanted to go mobile, but that's not the case here. Rust is the best I can come up with, though it seems like a tough first language.
Do you have any ideas? I see the value of learning static first, but can't come up with a good language!