7 Reasons to Learn Spanish Right Now
Want to learn Spanish? Imagine being able to speak the language of 22 countries!
You’ve probably thought about taking Spanish for a while now. Or maybe you started and left it after a year or two because you probably did not get the results you hoped for. As a Spanish Language Specialist, I’ve heard all the excuses in the world from those who gave up on their journey: there just isn’t enough time; learning a language is too much of a time investment; it is too difficult. I have to tell you a secret: you are wrong! We all know there are many reasons to learn Spanish(,) and those are probably the reasons that sparked your interest in the language to start with. Otherwise, you would’ve never started learning it. I will tell you seven reasons why you should be learning Spanish today. Not in a year. Not when life gets easier. Not when Spanish gets easier (it never will). Not when things slow down at work. Now.
1. 22 Spanish-speaking countries, 470 million people
Do you enjoy traveling? Perhaps you like meeting new people? Imagine speaking the official language of 22 countries around the world. That’s right: there are 22 countries around the world with Spanish as their main language. When you learn the language, a world of possibilities opens up for you: travel, new friends, business and professional opportunities, and a diverse culture of 470 million speakers around the world. Wouldn’t it be fantastic to be able to communicate with all those people?
2. 56.6 million Hispanics in the United States
and within that more than 41 million native speakers. Hispanics are the fastest growing ethnic group. When we look at the numbers in the US, the Hispanic economy is worth over 1.5 trillion dollars, with individual spending habits of approximately $90 per day, well above any other ethnic group. In the US alone, which does not have an official language, Spanish is close to being a second language. Isn’t it time you learn?
3. The language is beautiful
You might’ve heard that French is the language of love, but I believe Spanish is the language of languages. It is the most widely spoken romance language, beautiful to hear and to be heard. Just listen to how Hispanics roll their r’s :).
4. The language is easy!
Did you know English is one of the hardest languages to learn? Unlike English, Spanish has five vowel sounds: a, e, i, o, u. Spanish, on the other hand, is a phonetic language, so the words are always pronounced as they are written, making reading and pronunciation very accessible.
5. Learning Spanish takes only 700 hours!
In approximately 700 hours you could master Spanish! That’s how long it takes for you to go through the various levels of Spanish, from basic beginner to expert level. If you take 700 classroom hours of Spanish, or its equivalent, and follow through on assignments, you are bound to become an expert. The average person should spend around 2 to 3 minutes brushing their teeth, so learning Spanish means brushing your teeth 21,000 times. But who is going to brush their teeth 21,000 times, so think about the time people spend simply surfing the internet, that’s an estimated 506 minutes a day on the internet, around 8.5 hours a day. That means that in a year, you’ll have spent around 3,103 hours on the internet, instead of having learned Spanish 4 times.
6. The course of true love never did run smooth
This is my favorite Shakespeare quote. The reason why I love it is because it summarizes one of the biggests life lessons I’ve ever encountered. If you think learning a language is difficult, I have to ask you: has anything worth achieving ever been easy for you? Language learning is an act of patience and courage. And some love. Anything you want to achieve is worth pursuing, even if it seems challenging at the moment. Doesn’t it sound like love?
7. You'll be ahead of the curve
Globalization is always on the rise. The global market grows more competitive every day. The Hispanic community will continue to grow and expand. Think long-term and you’ll be ahead of the curve. Learn Spanish. Not in the future. Not tomorrow. NOW.
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