Learning Spanish is one of the main reasons that students from all over the world come to Spain year after year. This beautiful language is spoken by hundreds of millions of people. Do you want to be one of them? We’ve come up with the top 10 reasons to learn Spanish.
Are you ready to hit the libros?
10. It’s spoken all over the world
Did you know that Spanish is the language with the second-highest number of native speakers in the world? (The first is Mandarin Chinese, if you were curious. English comes in third place).
There are over 480 million native Spanish speakers worldwide. If you count non-native speakers, that number goes up to 570 million!
Learning the language gives you the chance to connect with literally millions of new people. That’s pretty cool!
9. Make new friends
Studying or living abroad in Spain provides an amazing opportunity to get to know people you’d never meet back home. There are so many potential new friends waiting out there. And, if you speak the local lingo, you’ll be able to meet people you wouldn’t otherwise. Speaking Spanish opens social doors – or should we say puertas?
8. Connect with the local culture
Have you ever heard the phrase “lost in translation”? Sometimes, when things are translated, they just aren’t quite the same. Speaking Spanish can help you better understand the local culture first-hand, rather than having to rely on a translation. You’ll also pick up phrases and expressions that are tied to the country’s history and traditions. It can give you a deeper and more nuanced view. Language is a powerful tool for understanding a culture, and Spanish is no exception.
7. Broaden your job opportunities internationally…
In lots of countries, it’s totally normal to speak multiple languages. In some places, it may even be a job requirement. Even if it’s not an actual requirement, you may find your job opportunities abroad limited by not speaking the language. Why not broaden your opportunities instead? You never know where another language could take you!
6. …and back home, too!
If you want to work in Spain, it makes sense that you may need to learn some Spanish. But did you know that speaking Spanish can also open up new job opportunities for you in your home country? Lots of employers see multiple languages as a plus. You also might get the chance to work with Spanish-speaking communities in your own country. Learning Spanish can prepare you for long-term job success, both overseas and at home.
5. Have fun!
OK, we may have convinced you by now that it’s a sensible idea to learn Spanish. But one thing we haven’t mentioned in our top 10 reasons to learn Spanish so far is that it can be really fun to learn! You may just find you have a knack for languages and a new hobby. Why not try it out and see?
4. It’s one of the easiest languages for English speakers to learn
Not only is Spanish a practical language to learn, but it’s also relatively easy to learn. We say relatively, because speaking any language fluently takes time and effort. But with Spanish, you can very quickly start saying simple sentences. There are lots of commonalities between Spanish and English, including words that are the same or nearly the same. Spanish pronunciation is also easy, with words pronounced exactly how they’re spelled.
3. Train your brain
Learning a new language is actually good for your brain. The New York Times says that being bilingual improves cognitive skills – even ones that have nothing to do with language. It’s sort of like a workout for your brain. It can even do things like protect your brain from dementia and Alzheimer’s. Pretty impressive stuff!
2. Connect with local cultures back home
One surprise you might find about learning Spanish in Spain is that it can help you once you go home, too. Many countries where Spanish isn’t the native language have large populations of Spanish speakers. You might be surprised that speaking Spanish opens up your eyes to new parts of your own hometown.
1. Use it for future travels
Many students who study or live abroad in Spain find that they get a serious case of the travel bug. Luckily, it’s a big world out there to explore! If you speak Spanish, you’ve got a powerful tool in your suitcase for your future adventures. Speaking Spanish isn’t just useful in Spain; it can be helpful all over the globe.
That brings us to the end of our list of the top 10 reasons to learn Spanish. Have we forgotten any reasons? Leave us a comment and let us know what your favorite reason is to learn Spanish!
