Why Speaking Spanish Is Important

Sign in Mexico

Since about half of the people living in the western hemisphere speak Spanish, it is a good idea to know how to speak this important language. Learning Spanish also can increase your employment opportunities and help keep your mind sharp and active.

Significance

Speaking Spanish may help with your job searches, especially if you are looking for work in parts of the country that have a sizable Spanish-speaking population. Employers often are looking for employees who are fluent in both English and Spanish.

Considerations

As of 2006, the United States had 34 million residents age 5 and older who speak Spanish at home. Twelve percent of U.S. residents speak Spanish, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Benefits

By learning Spanish, which is categorized as a Romance language, you also will enhance your understanding of similar languages. French, Italian, Portuguese and several Spanish dialects also are Romance languages.

Prevention

Learning Spanish stimulates the mind and helps keep your mental facilities sharp, even after you retire. Scientists have found that being bilingual seems to encourage mental activity, both in children and adults.

Travel

After learning Spanish, travel to Spanish-speaking nations will become easier and more enjoyable because you will be able to communicate with the people who only speak Spanish.

Worldwide Importance

There are more than 400 million Spanish speakers worldwide. This makes Spanish the fourth most spoken language in the world--it is only outranked by Mandarin, English and Hindi.

References

• Study Spanish: 10 Reasons for Learning Spanish
• Translation Directory: Why Is Learning Spanish So Important?
• University of Illinois: Why Choose Spanish As Your New Foreign Language?

Resources

• U.S. Census Bureau: Hispanic Heritage Month 2008