Interested in Spanish?

We all know that there is more to learning a new language, it is learning about its people, its culture, a new way of getting to know places. Learning a new language is about opening doors to, competing for a better job opportunity or standing out from the pile of resumes.

What are the benefits of learning a second language?

Research has shown that learning a second language improves cognitive abilities, boosts problem-solving skills, and helps you become a better multitasker by being able to switch quickly from one activity to another.

Also, learning a second language can significantly delay the incipience of brain diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia, which has been documented in several multilingual studies.

But, why learn Spanish?

According to Babbel, “There are nearly 450 million native speakers of Spanish, making it second only to Chinese in terms of the most spoken languages in the world. English is just behind Spanish, with approximately 360 million native speakers.”

Just in the U.S., in a 2015 report made by Instituto Cervantes showed the United States has the second-highest concentration of Spanish speakers in the world, after Mexico. Roughly 53 million people, 41 million native Spanish speakers, and approximately 11.6 million bilingual Spanish speakers live in the United States, adding to that the incredible Hispanic population growth in the U.S.

Are you still thinking this is not enough reason to learn Spanish?

Think about the beautiful beaches in Mexico or the Caribbean, think about those colorful towns and cities that Latin America has to offer. Full of life and culture, wouldn’t it be interesting to be able to travel and communicate at least on a basic level to immerse yourself in its culture and with its welcoming residents?

Learning Spanish would not only make you a more confident traveler, but it will also make your experience more enjoyable.

Where to start?

There are a lot of apps and options out there to try, Quizlet ( I prefer it for learning vocabulary), Duolingo, Busuu, Pimsleur, Rosetta Stone just to name a few. Booking classes with a virtual Spanish teacher that would be able to tailor a course to your needs from the convenience of your home or office. My advice, check a couple, try them, ask for a free lesson and grab the one that you like and that you feel the most comfortable with. At the end of the day, you want to make learning a new language a fun and entertaining experience.

Now, sometimes we do not want to go through the strain of enrolling in regular classes and having to adjust to a schedule, especially if you have a trip planned coming up. Therefore, there are a couple of crash courses out there or Spanish for specific purposes to help get you ready for your adventure, and even so, there are a couple of books that would assist you as a guide to have at hand while you are ordering your tacos al pastor or your mezcal.

For language learners of all ages, MOOCs regularly offer free access to world-class instructors and at your pace as well like Coursera or EDX.

While you are traveling and for review on your flight, you can get yourself a small traveling Spanish booklet to have with you at hand and practice straight from it.

Spanish learning can be tricky too, there is are regional variations of the language from country to country, and sometimes even city to city. It is a language that even as a native speaker, never ceases to amaze me. So if you are interested in learning Spanish or enhancing your skills, take the plunge and go for it. You will open the door to communicating with new people all around you, gain a new understanding of other cultures.

https://deepenglish.com/article/12-surprising-benefits-of-learning-second-language/

https://www.leadwithlanguages.org/why-learn-languages/early-childhood-elementary/#:~:text=Feed%20Their%20Brains,enhanced%20creativity%20and%20mental%20flexibility.