If you want to get a better handle on Perl-related concepts, I'd say go with C/C++. I revisited C after a couple of years messing with Perl, and was amazed at how much easier C was than the first time I'd tried. Most of the Perl functions that we've learned have a direct counterpart in the C standard library. Also, many cross-platform GUI libraries are written in C++ (Examples: wxWindows, Qt, FLTK). Even if you spend most of your time using the Perl bindings for one of those toolkits, an understanding of C++ will help in building a better grasp of the "translation" from C++ to Perl.

VB is good because ... ummm ... I've never used it, so I couldn't tell you. I imagine the interface to it would make it very easy for you to build GUI apps, and that means you would be able to work your way through fun pointy-clicky applications earlier than with C++.

COBOL is good because ... well, no. COBOL isn't very nice to me at all. I know some folks who swear by it, but I've only ever swore at it. However, every state office over here (Washington state) makes heavy use of COBOL. So you could always get a job working for the government :-)

Go to the local library, or look around online for information about each of these languages. Decide which one looks more interesting or less intimidating, and take that class. Go. Learn. Have fun.

"All you need is ignorance and confidence; then success is sure."-- Mark Twain