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Home::Reference & Education
Why is learning Spanish so important?
Author : Dorioara Pinku
Why is learning Spanish so important?
Learning a foreign language, like Spanish, is becoming much more
of a necessity in today's society. Learning Spanish is easier
and more enjoyable than ever with audio courses, online courses,
study abroad, and intensive language courses.
Following are just some of the many reasons learning Spanish
will benefit you and enrich your life:
More than 400 million people speak Spanish worldwide -- By
learning Spanish, you'll be better able to communicate with
Spanish speakers who don't speak English. Whether you travel
abroad or within the United States, you'll likely run into more
than one situation that will require you to know at least basic
Spanish.
Spanish speaking countries include Argentina, Belize, Bolivia,
Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador,
El Salvador, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea,
Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru,
Spain, Uruguay and Venezuela.
More than 33 million people in America speak Spanish -- That
makes the United States fifth on the list of countries with the
most Spanish-speaking people. Spanish is also one of the most
commonly spoken languages in the world, behind Chinese, English
and Hindustani. Undoubtedly, at some point during your life,
you're going to find that knowing Spanish is extremely valuable.
More than 1000 Spanish-speaking immigrants come to the United
States every day -- That means the country gains at least
365,000 new Spanish-speaking residents each year.
Knowing Spanish enhances your resume -- Employers love
applicants that have fluency (or even moderate fluency) in a
foreign language. Having the ability to speak Spanish will allow
you to communicate with Spanish-speaking employees. If no one
else at the company speaks Spanish, you'll be even more
valuable. If you've ever searched through the classifieds,
you've likely run across an ad that states, "Must speak English
and Spanish."
If you want to continue your education, you'll need to take
foreign language classes -- Most colleges require that
undergraduate students take at least two semesters of a foreign
language. If you have your eyes on graduate school, you should
know that many require students to be able to read and
comprehend one, and sometimes two, foreign languages. Getting a
jump-start on learning Spanish will definitely pay off later,
especially if you're continuing your education.
If you love to travel, you'll have even more fun if you go to a
Spanish speaking country -- Of course, you don't need to know
Spanish, or any other foreign language, for that matter, to
travel overseas, but you'll find it really enhances your
experience to know the language. In fact, even if you don't go
to a Spanish speaking country, you'll still find that knowing
Spanish is an asset. Let's say you go to Paris or Rome. More
likely than not, you'll run into Europeans who don't speak
English, but speak several other languages, and you'll be able
to use your Spanish.
Spanish is a romance language, which means if you're in France
or Italy, for example, you'll have an easier time deciphering
the language because they're similar.
Learning a foreign language actually helps keep your memory
sharp -- As we grow older, our memory begins to fade. In fact,
an article published by the AARP (American Association of
Retired People) states, "Mastering activities you've have not
done before, such as playing the piano or learning a foreign
language, stimulates neuron activity. For best results, remember
this: People exposed to positive reinforcement before completing
memory exercises scored well above others exposed to negative
reinforcement in a study led by Thomas Hess, a North Carolina
State Univ. psychologist."
These are only a few of the many reasons you'll benefit from
learning Spanish. You probably have a few of your own. Whatever
the reason, you'll find that learning Spanish is not only fun,
but it enriches your experiences, whether at work or while
traveling.
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