You might also: - inspire someone to do something - prompt someone to do something - push someone to do something

There are some other words but not many, it can depend on the situation you are encouraging someone with. You can say I supported Ann while she was going through a difficult time. I supported her to write her English homework. This last sentence is correct but it is not quite the same as encourage :) You could use cheer if it is a race, I cheered her on during the race, which is similar to I encouraged her on during the race. You could use helped as it has more uses, I helped her to study, I helped her during her difficult time. I helped them when they were feeling sad. This is similar to encourage.

I recommend that you learn a foreign lanuage I suggest that you learn a foreign language I really think you should learn a foreign language

'Urge' ? It's a little stronger.

When you talk to somebody, "encourage" is the best verb. I think that in others cases you can use "support" or "promote"