Reasons to Learn Spanish
Out of all of the other languages, why is it important to study Spanish? Why not go for Russian, French or Italian as they appear to so useful these days, particularly if you are a US citizen. However, due to the increasing number of Latin Americans, the ability to converse in a language that is extensively used could be a priceless advantage.
More schools are becoming bilingual, with the Spanish language being emphasized. There are also some locations around the country, for instance Miami, where there are more Spanish speakers living there than native English speakers. The Spanish language is among the most widely used worldwide, though the exact position is hard to determine, as so many people who speak Spanish also speak another language.
The majority of the Latin American countries, particularly in the South and Central America, speak Spanish with an increasing number of individuals living in the US. That is nearly a whole hemisphere filled with the Spanish language! There is also Spain, obviously, and while their Spanish may be somewhat different from the Spanish in the Latin America, it is still Spanish, and learning one makes the other much easier to pick up.
The unfortunate issue is that native speakers of English find it very easy to be lazy. Tourism is geared up for English speakers, and English is the most spoken language in the world, making it difficult to muster up the motivation to learn a new language. However, being bilingual can really up your job prospects, for one thing. It can also provide you with a chance to live and work in the country which may be an unavailable option otherwise. It provides an alternative option for work and home, and with the many countries today that are able to speak Spanish, it provides a lot of people with several opportunities.
Statistics of Spanish
In the worldwide statistics, Spanish ranks in as the third most spoken language, subsequent to Mandarin Chinese and English and positions as second, with regards to the number of native speakers. At the end of the 19th century, there were 60 million individuals who spoke Spanish. In the present day, there are nearly 500 million individuals around the world who can speak Spanish.
Spanish is the native language of about 388 million individuals in 21 countries, including in Mexico, USA, Spain, Colombia, Argentina, Venezuela and Peru. It is extensively used also in locations where this language is unofficial but very popular. Hispanic customers are the speediest growing market section in North America. Their residents in US have increased by 60 percent in just a decade. This language is the second most used in international communication and is one of the official languages of the UN along with its associates.
Economic Markers
There are 29 million US occupants over five years old who speak Spanish at home. That is about one of every ten US occupants, a vast customer and trade market. The world is turning multilingual, with Spanish, Arabic and Chinese seemingly becoming the main languages of future. Nobody is conscious of the changing tides of trade more than those that are working in global markets. Thus, foreign language proficiency is an important advantage for job hunters as there are an increasing number of businesses trading internationally, and more jobs in the future are opening up to enable trade on this level.
Cultural Markers
Latin culture carries on influencing globally with matters like on architecture, literature and art. Who is not familiar with Cervantes ‘Don Quijote de la Macha’, which is the second most translated book subsequent to the Bible? Who has not learned about the most expensive painting that was ever sold which was painted by Picasso?
Santiago Calatrava is the Spanish architect that continues to make his mark throughout the world, with modern and up to date projects in Germany, Ireland, Sweden and the Olympic campus in Athens, as well as the site of world trade centre found in New York. The Spanish language authors such as Isabel Allende and Gabriel Garcia Marquez go on leading the global best seller lists as well as gaining international critical praise.
Better Comprehension of English
The majority of the English language has a Latin origin, most of them originating by the way of French. Since Spanish is a Latin language as well, you will see when studying Spanish that you will have better comprehension of your native lexicon. Likewise, English and Spanish share Indo-European origins; this is the reason why their grammar is alike. There is probably no other efficient method to understanding English than by learning the grammar of another language, for the comprehension will force you reflect on how a particular language is structured. It is not odd, for instance, to acquire understanding of English tenses, moods and verbs by studying how these are to be applied in Spanish.
Understanding your Fellow Citizens
Not long ago, Spanish-speaking occupants of the US were restrained in the Mexican Border States, New York and Florida. But now, it is different, because in less than 100 km. from Canadian border, you will observe that there are now Spanish-speaking individuals. Learning this language has certainly established its usefulness in terms with communicating with other people in US who cannot speak English. If you are working in the US and with a person who does not speak English, the odds are with you that they will speak Spanish.
Practicality when Travelling
Certainly, it is possible for you to travel to Spain, Mexico and Ecuatorial Guinea with no need to speaking Spanish. However, learning the language of a culture before you visit is half of the excitement. When you are able to speak Spanish, especially when going to areas where people have this as their mother tongue, you will be able to get along with them easily. Your travel experiences will be more memorable and one that most tourists would much prefer. Why go to a country to speak your own language? Why not engage fully in the local culture?
Understanding other Cultures
While a lot of people think that they are unable to learn several languages except for their original language, those that have learned a language know that learning a language will assist you in understanding how other individuals think. When you are able to read Spanish or Latin American writings, you will certainly gain understanding on how these individuals feel or think, in a viewpoint that is different from your own. Spanish provides you also with a wealth of literature, traditional and modern.
Study Spanish in Preparation for Overseas Openings
A number of schools and universities abroad offer study opportunities for the Spanish language. Diverse kinds of programs are now available to select from and these differ in duration for as short as a week or a semester or to a full year. Frequently, as short as a semester or a year of previous language study is all you need to meet the criteria to join an exchange program.
Without taking the initial procedure of signing up for language class, you might miss the chance of going on one of the most enthralling adventures. What could be more admirable than being able to acquire new language skills that you can actually put to use in among the numerous Spanish-speaking countries all over the world? Not to mention that exchange programs can provide you with the chance to apply the Spanish skill that you now have, but can also enhance your language capabilities. Continuous exposure to culture and language is considered to be the solution to real language mastery and will definitely assist you in becoming fluent.
Studying other Languages
If you are able to learn Spanish, you will have a jump start in understanding other Latin based languages like Italian and French. This will assist you in learning German and Russian, since these have Indo-European origins as well and have some traits that exist in Spanish and not in English. It will be surprising if this language will help you understand Japanese and other non Indo-European language, through intensive learning of the syntax of a language can provide you with reference tips for studying others. It can also provide you with some excellent study methods for languages.
Spanish is Uncomplicated to Learn
Spanish is among the most uncomplicated languages that you can learn. Most of its lexis is alike with English and the written Spanish is roughly entirely phonetic. Take a look at almost any kind of Spanish word, and if you have the basics of pronunciation down, you will be able to know exactly how it is spoken. While mastering Spanish grammar can be challenging, basic grammar is direct enough that you can have meaningful conversations after only a few lessons.
Employment Breaks
If you are living in the US and work in among the assisting professions such as education and medicine, you will be able to seek opportunities through your learning of Spanish. Wherever you are residing, if you are working for any particular profession that engages international trade, tourism or communications, you can seek similar opportunities where you can apply your latest language skills.
Learning Spanish is Enjoyable
When you take pleasure in conversing, reading or mastering challenges, you will discover all of these when you decide to learn Spanish. For a lot of individuals, there is something intrinsically enjoyable in successfully conversing in another kind of language. Even though studying a language is something that takes a lot of effort and exertion, every bit of hard work will pay off when you are able to apply your skills.