If you don’t already speak Spanish, you really should consider learning, like, ahora!
Whether you want to improve your job prospects, keep your mind sharp, or explore new cultures without having to rely on Siri to ask for directions, Spanish is the one tool that will help you achieve all of that and more -- and we’re not just saying that because we’re Latino Voices. No (said in español )!
Spanish is the second-most spoken language in the United States, after English, and is the dominant language in many of our neighboring countries in the Western Hemisphere. It also happens to be an extremely beautiful language that is as useful as it is melodic.
Here are 15 really good reasons why every American should learn Spanish. De nada!
A rising number of employers prefer individuals who can speak Spanish fluently. A 2013 survey of high level managers and executives conducted by Strategy + Business found that 96 percent of respondents “thought language skills are either “very important” or “somewhat important” for professional success in the current business environment.”
With 329 million native speakers, according to Ethnologue, Spanish is the second most commonly spoken language in the world after English. Get to know your hemispheric neighbors in Latin America, and fake your with through Portuguese in Brazil with your new language skills.
Doctors, lawyers and social workers work with diverse individuals and families day in and day out, many of whom may speak Spanish. According to the U.S. census, 12.9 percent of Americans speak Spanish at home.
By 2050, the U.S. will be the largest Spanish speaking country, according to the Association of Spanish Language Academies. That means that if if you have children in the next decade or so, they will likely speak the language or at least have friends who speak Spanish. Now, wouldn't you like to understand what your children and their friends are saying to one another when they're not speaking English?
If working abroad or traveling for work is one of your career goals, learning how to speak Spanish fluently will help you get there. In an increasingly global market, being bilingual will help you speak with international clients, negotiate business deals abroad, and collaborate with experts across the globe.
Not only does learning a second language improve your brain, but it helps your mind stay sharp longer. That's right -- several studies show that speaking being bilingual improves cognitive skills unrelated to language.
Researchers at the University of Ghent in Belgium recently published a study that added to the growing evidence that bilingualism can delay the onset of Alzheimer’s and it "contributes to cognitive reserve and postpones the symptoms of dementia."
Ever find yourself in downtown Laredo, Texas or somewhere in Miami without an English speaker in sight? Learning to speak Spanish will help take care of that problem.
Latinos are one of the fastest growing populations in the United States. Though English may be the country’s most commonly spoken language, many Latinos in the U.S. come from Spanish-speaking households. Learning Spanish may help you get to know your neighbors and make new friends.
Learning the Spanish can help boost your vocabulary by familiarizing you with English words that have Latin roots.