Three Reasons Why You Should Learn to Speak in Spanish
Perhaps you remember taking Spanish classes in junior high and high school, and maybe one more as an elective in college. You might not have considered the benefits of such classes when you were enrolled, figuring there wouldn't be any use for them once you entered "the real world." But studies and experiences show differently. With an ever-increasing Hispanic population within the United States, and more than 21 countries speaking Spanish throughout the world, it has become increasingly important for people to adopt Spanish as a second language for many personal, professional and social reasons.
Other People Are Reading
-
Enhance Your Professional Qualifications
-
Demonstrating your Spanish language ability considerably increases your marketability to the organizations you seek employment with. Employees who speak Spanish are an asset to the organization, as they expand its ability to communicate to a larger audience as well as interact with Spanish-speaking customers and businesses based in Spanish-speaking countries. If this doesn't encourage you, consider the perks of commanding a higher salary simply because you're bilingual. Kate Lorenz, a CareerBuilder editor, states that in addition to commanding a better salary, "most employers perceive bilingual and multilingual candidates as being more flexible, intelligent and adaptable to change."
Make Traveling Easier
-
If you travel frequently, or plan to in the future, speaking and understanding Spanish improves your experience. More than 21 countries use Spanish as an official language, and more than 400 million people speak Spanish throughout the world, according to Study Spanish. Imagine traveling to Madrid or Buenos Aires, walking down the street and discovering an inviting cafe. You sit down and are ready to order, but due to your inability to completely understand the waiter or waitress, you have difficulty ordering and end up with the wrong meal. Wouldn't that dampen your experience? Now imagine how this situation would play out if you knew conversational Spanish and were able to use it to your advantage.
-
Increase Your Intelligence
-
Learning to speak one or more additional languages increases your intelligence. Steve Gillman, a brain-power-enhancement expert, states that learning another language, such as Spanish, increases your brain power and helps to slow the aging process. In addition to "halt(ing) the age-related decline in brain function," Gillman asserts that learning another language "introduces your mind to new concepts and new ways of looking at things." In short, you'll exercise your brain and maximize your potential as you study Spanish.
How to Start Learning Spanish
-
If you're interested in learning how to speak Spanish, or improve your conversational Spanish skills, there are plenty of resources available. Many websites offer free tutorials to increase your understanding Spanish. Additionally, you can purchase programs such as Rosetta Stone or Pimsleur to assist you in learning the language at a quicker pace. If you have Spanish-speaking friends or family members, ask them to assist you as you learn to hold a conversation. Also, listen to the news in Spanish to help learn the pronunciation of the words.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit spanish literature image by JCVStock from Fotolia.com
