Study Abroad Success
My 10 Best Reasons to Learn Spanish
Let’s consider the 10 best reasons to learn Spanish.
I love languages – speaking them, learning them. I love traveling the world and meeting new people. I like to try to understand why people think the way they do. What better way to understand a people and their culture than to learn the language?
So here goes…
1. Learn Spanish is because it is a fun language to engage in. The Spanish language is one of the most interesting to learn. It is spoken by almost 400 million people throughout the world.
2. Another reason to learn Spanish is so you can to better appreciate the cultural contributions of Latinos/Latinas. If you want to learn the culture, you may want to take the first step and learn Spanish beforehand.
3. A third reason for you to learn Spanish is so you can communicate with Spanish-speaking people in their own language when you study abroad in the Dominican Republic, study abroad in Ecuador, visit Spain, Mexico, most of the countries in South America, and Central America. Spanish is the official language or is spoken by a significant number of the population in the following countries:
- Argentina
- Belize
- Bolivia
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Cuba
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Congo, Democratic Republic of the
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Mexico
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Spain
- United States
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
4. You may want to learn Spanish for your own personal development. Being fluent in a second or third language is a great entry to put on your resume or Curriculum vita.
5. Knowing Spanish can help you on your job. Let’s say, for instance, that you speak Spanish and you are working in a convenience store in an area that is frequented by Latinos/Latinas. You can easily communicate with them – especially if they do not understand or speak English very well.
6. You can completely transform your dining experience when you eat in Mexican or other ethnic restaurants. You won’t require the waiter or your companions to translate everything for you!
7. You can truly expand your universe by becoming more knowledgeable about the world. Learning Spanish can also help virtually anyone who currently lives in the USA. Many Spanish-speaking people are immigrating to the United States in search of work. Knowing Spanish will help you find your way around a neighborhood populated by recent Spanish-speaking immigrants.
8. Being bilingual or even multilingual can help you rise up the corporate ladder towards a more promising career. Research even indicates that being proficient in two or more languages improves your mental agility and helps you continue to develop your brain.
9. The USA is becoming an increasingly Latino nation. In fact, Latinos now comprise the largest “minority” group in the states. All professionals could benefit from knowing the language of people they deal with on a regular basis. This is extremely important for teachers, doctors, and lawyers.
10. Finally, one of the best reasons to learn Spanish is so you can keep pace with popular culture. It will take time for you to truly master Spanish. However, if you already know a romance language such as French, Portuguese, or Italian, you will find Spanish to be a pretty easy language to learn. Spend a year in a Spanish-speaking nation, and you’re good to go. Being fluent in Spanish will prove very useful for you – especially if current immigration and population (birth) trends continue.
5. Knowing Spanish can help you on your job. Let’s say, for instance, that you speak Spanish and you are working in a convenience store in an area that is frequented by Latinos/Latinas. You can easily communicate with them – especially if they do not understand or speak English very well.
6. You can completely transform your dining experience when you eat in Mexican or other ethnic restaurants. You won’t require the waiter or your companions to translate everything for you!
7. You can truly expand your universe by becoming more knowledgeable about the world. Learning Spanish can also help virtually anyone who currently lives in the USA. Many Spanish-speaking people are immigrating to the United States in search of work. Knowing Spanish will help you find your way around a neighborhood populated by recent Spanish-speaking immigrants.
8. Being bilingual or even multilingual can help you rise up the corporate ladder towards a more promising career. Research even indicates that being proficient in two or more languages improves your mental agility and helps you continue to develop your brain.
9. The USA is becoming an increasingly Latino nation. In fact, Latinos now comprise the largest “minority” group in the states. All professionals could benefit from knowing the language of people they deal with on a regular basis. This is extremely important for teachers, doctors, and lawyers.
10. Finally, one of the best reasons to learn Spanish is so you can keep pace with popular culture. It will take time for you to truly master Spanish. However, if you already know a romance language such as French, Portuguese, or Italian, you will find Spanish to be a pretty easy language to learn. Spend a year in a Spanish-speaking nation, and you’re good to go. Being fluent in Spanish will prove very useful for you – especially if current immigration and population (birth) trends continue.
Learning an additional language, and traveling abroad are generally life-changing events. If you want to, you can listen in on a portion of an interview I did with a student about her study abroad adventures in a Spanish-speaking country.
Now you know my 10 best reasons to learn Spanish. What are yours?
Now you know my 10 best reasons to learn Spanish. What are yours?
