Skip Navigation

Why Learn Languages? - Why Learn Spanish

Practical Reasons:

  • If you can learn Spanish, you’ll have a head start in learning the other Latin-based languages such as French and Italian. And it will even help you learn Russian and German, since they too have Indo-European roots and have some characteristics (such as gender and extensive conjugation) that are present in Spanish but not English.
  • Much of its vocabulary is similar to English, and written Spanish is almost completely phonetic: Look at almost any Spanish word and you can tell how it is pronounced. Basic grammar is straightforward enough that you can have meaningful communication after only a few lessons.

Who would you be able to speak with?

  • There are twenty-five countries in the world who speak Spanish either as an official language or as a primary language.
  • The U.S. is the third largest Spanish speaking country in the world.
  • The Hispanic population in the United States has grown by 60 per cent in just one decade.
  • At present there are 35,5 million Hispanics, representing 12,5 per cent of the total population.

Academic Reasons:

  • The study of Spanish helps with the understanding of English grammar.
  • Studying Spanish helps students expand their vocabulary.
  • Students enrolled in the study of languages including Spanish have higher SAT scores for each year of language studied than students who do not study a foreign language.
  • Learning a new language increases problem-solving skills and improves memory, self-discipline, and self-esteem.
  • Spanish is the language of many masterpieces which can be accessed in the original version by speakers of Spanish.

Economic Reasons:

  • The Latin American countries are experiencing strong economic growth and they are becoming important commercial partners.
  • The creation of MERCOSUR and many other free trade agreements between South American countries and North America (ALADI, the Andean Community, CACM, NAFTA, G3) which already exist in order to improve the economies of these countries, making them more efficient and competitive.
  • If you’re in the United States and work in one of the helping professions including medicine and education, you’ll find your opportunities expand by knowing Spanish.
  • And wherever you live, if you’re in any occupation that involves international trade, communications or tourism, you’ll similarly find opportunities to use your new language skills.
  • According to the Kiplinger Washington Editors, the Hispanic share of the workforce will increase 25 percent by 2010.

Back to Why Learn Languages?