The Benefits of Learning Spanish as a second language Picking up a new language can be a daunting experience. The idea of starting learning Spanish may strike you every once in a while, but after signing up for a free online Spanish course, you find yourself overwhelmed by unusual conjugations, and previously unheard-of subjunctives. After failing to identify the difference between ‘ser’ and ‘estar’ one too many times you give up. After all, you have communicated in English very effectively so far, is learning another language really worth it?
Nothing is more enriching than being able to speak a second language, especially a language
as useful and beautiful as Spanish. Learning Spanish will allow you to explore new countries,
forge new friendships, and broaden your horizons. Below are just a few of the reasons why
learning Spanish can be so beneficial.
Thanks to modern technology, we are interacting with people on a global scale more than ever before. Across the globe, there are over 572 million Spanish speakers as of 2017, and that number is only increasing. Furthermore, Spanish is the second most widely natively spoken language in the world behind Mandarin, with over 460 million native Spanish speakers. This makes learning Spanish perhaps the best move you can make to improve your global communication. These native speakers are located not just in Spain, but all over the world. 20 sovereign states and 1 dependant territory count Spanish as the official language of their country. This includes but is not limited to Spain, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Argentina, and many, many more. This allows you a wealth of global opportunities. Traveling the world becomes much more rewarding and immersive when you can communicate in a country’s native language. There is no better way to fully immerse in a culture, and expand your world knowledge, and social circle. More people than ever before are traveling, be it for work or for pleasure, and Spanish can be the perfect tool to help you along the way. Learning Spanish also opens you up not just to new people, but to a greater wealth of literature, art, and culture. From the captivating works of Goya and Picasso in the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando to the pre-eminent and extraordinary writings of Miguel de Cervantes, Spanish art and literature are full of exciting gems that you would miss out on without a true understanding and context brought by understanding the native tongue of its creators.
Spanish is not only beneficial personally, but professionally too. The ability to communicate in multiple languages is one of the top ten skills required in an increasingly competitive job market. This is likely due to how learning a language improves not just your ability to communicate, but cognitive ability, memory, and focus too. To top it off, Spanish is one of the easiest languages for a native English speaker to pick up. It is considered a highly transferable language due to it being from the Romance family of languages, getting most of its basis from Latin. As well as taking the shortest time for English speakers to gain fluency, it provides a firm foundation for learning other Romance languages, such as French, Italian, and Portuguese. Learning Spanish could be the gateway you need to learn many more languages and gain even more global connections and enrichment.
With so many potential benefits to learning Spanish, what are you waiting for? My Spanish Lessons Ltd is ready and waiting to help you with your language discovery journey. With a range of one-to-one online Spanish lessons available now and a variety of group online Spanish courses starting in September, there has never been a better time to start. We will have you speaking like a native in no time.
