[willvarfar]

He wants to write web applications.

If you put aside 'web', I imagine Python to be the best training language - its the new Pascal. I say that as one of the European Turbo Pascal generation that used TP as a stepping stone to assembler. Python offers that same clarity without the dumbing down. Python is as close to pseudo-code as I've seen. Its what I imagine myself introducing my children too just as soon as a I dare let them borrow my computers...

But if he really means web, Haxe might be a good choice. Its javascript-esque, it runs in browsers, and you can do fancy graphics and games and such. I imgaine making flash applets to be far closer to what he might enjoy rather than text-based stuff that more classic web development generates.

The whole making web pages and equating that to programming - sure its a job and all, but is it fun and inspiring?

[Joeboy]

I like the look of Haxe, but the downside is that it's pretty obscure and won't have the same kind of community support or employment prospects as more mainstream options.

[willvarfar]

learning has to be fun.

it doesn't have to be about community.