The Importance of Americans' Learning Spanish
Spanish is the official language of over 20 nations. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the United States has the fifth-largest population of Spanish speakers in the world as of 2008. In some states like California, New Mexico, Arizona and Texas, over 25 percent of the population are native Spanish speakers. There is a variety of social and economic benefits afforded those who are bilingual in America.
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History
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The first Europeans on what is today U.S. soil were 16th-century Spanish conquistadors and settlers. They explored not only the southern states of Florida, Arizona and New Mexico but also the East and West coasts. Nearly half of the present continental United States was once in the hands of the Spanish. Texas was annexed by the United States in 1845. This act prompted the Mexican-American War, which resulted in Mexico's having to cede approximately 55 percent of its national territory, or 525,000 square miles (1.36 million square kilometers), to America in 1848. The territory ceded by Mexico includes the present-day states of Colorado, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, California, Arizona and New Mexico.
Spanish-Speaking Population in America
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It is difficult to determine the exact number of Spanish-speaking people currently living in the United States because of the possibility that some are undocumented. What is clear, according to 2008 Pew Hispanic Center data, is that Hispanic people comprise the largest minority in the United States, with a population of at least 47 million. A 2008 U.S. census survey indicated that a minimum of 34 million people in the United States speak Spanish exclusively at home. As a partial result of this growing population, Spanish is the second-most-spoken language in America after English, and the most popular to learn.
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Demography
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Many medium and large American cities including New York, Houston, Miami and Los Angeles have significant Spanish-speaking neighborhoods and populations. These populations require specialized services including Spanish-language education, health care, and other social and government services. Spanish speakers are also concentrated in the states of California, Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Washington, Colorado and New York. Bilingual individuals can provide important services to this Spanish-speaking population and aid the transition to life in the United States.
Economic Benefits
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Spanish is the world's second-most-spoken language, behind Mandarin Chinese and just ahead of English. In an increasingly globalized economy, being able to communicate in Spanish can result in significant economic benefits. Bilingual representatives of commercial and government interests can negotiate contracts and establish relationships with corporations and institutions in Spanish-speaking countries. Many of these countries have strong emerging economies, such as Chile, Argentina, Peru and Colombia. Within the United States, the Spanish-speaking population represents a growing market with increasing buying power. Many American industries such as the dairy industry also rely increasingly on Spanish-speaking workers, thus making it practical for owners and supervisors to learn Spanish.
Considerations
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Learning a second language can require a significant investment of time and effort on the part of the student. In addition to classwork, Spanish students may consider studying abroad in a Spanish-speaking country as a way of perfecting their language skills. It is important to consider what your career and social goals are with respect to becoming fluent in Spanish. Many foreign-language students in the United States hope to work directly with the Spanish-speaking population or in a Spanish-speaking country in various professions, including health care, law enforcement, social services, education, engineering, pharmacy and politics.
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References
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- Photo Credit ancient spanish text image by JCVStock from Fotolia.com
