Spanish is one of the most sought-after languages of language learners. And for good reason! It is a very popular language worldwide and the general consensus is that it is rather easy to learn.
Did you know these two crazy facts about the Spanish language?
- Spanish is the second most spoken language in terms of native speakers, with more than 460 million people worldwide. It is also the official language in 21 countries and is widely spoken in many others.
- The Spanish language has a large number of words that are borrowed from other languages, including Arabic, French, and English. For example, "alcachofa" (artichoke) and "almohada" (pillow) are borrowed from Arabic, "ballet" (ballet) and "bebé" (baby) are borrowed from French, and "chocolate" and "television" are borrowed from English. This is a reflection of the fact that Spain has a long and varied history of cultural exchange and has been influenced by many different languages and cultures over the years.
Are you unsure of the benefits of learning Spanish? Read on to find out reasons why you should consider taking up the language!
When you're speaking Spanish, you're thinking in a different way. -Giancarlo Esposito
Benefits Of Learning Spanish in 2023
Here are the top 10 reasons why you must keep learning Spanish in your New Year resolution list:
Greater Understanding of World Culture
Spanish-speaking countries have diverse and rich cultures.
Spanish is an official language in 20 countries spread throughout Europe, North, Central, and South America, Africa, and the Caribbean. It is also spoken widely in the US and the Philippines, and a little in Australia as well.
Spain’s history is entwined with Roman, Latin, Arabic, Iberian, and even Celtic influences. As such, it has a unique cultural personality.
Some of the most notable cultural events in Spanish-speaking countries are Flamenco, Las Fallas, Semana Santa, La Feria de Abril, Fiesta de San Fermin, La Tomatina, and Dia de Los Muertos.
Since South America, Central America, and the western parts of North America were colonized by the Spanish hundreds of years ago, there is a strong and distinct Spanish culture there as well. These areas are commonly referred to as Latin America, and infused in their Spanish heritage are thousands of years of indigenous culture as well.
One of the strongest common themes throughout all the Latin American countries is Catholicism, but it has taken on some indigenous flair as it was integrated into the existing culture at the time of the conquistadors.
Lay Foundations for Other Romance Languages
Romance, or Latin, languages all share similar roots. This is why it is considered easier for people who already know one of them to quickly take up another. Many of the words are the same and the grammar is usually pretty comparable. The trickiest part may be understanding how to ace the different pronunciations of letters and similar words.
Romance languages include English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Catalan, and Romanian.
Improve Educational Opportunities
You can find some extremely highly-renowned universities in Spanish-speaking parts of the world.
In Spain, La Universitat de València, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Universidad de Granada, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, and Universitat de Barcelona are just some of the universities you can enroll at. And while some classes may be available in English, you will need to take some Spanish lessons to complete your education, so it’s crucial to know the language!
Latin America also has great choices for universities.
Brazil
- Universidade de Sao Paulo
- Universidade Estadual de Campinas
Chile
- Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile
- Universidad de Chile
Mexico
- Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico
Argentina
- University of Buenos Aires
Studying in a Spanish or Latin American university presents unique opportunities to students, especially in their careers.
Boost Your CV
Being able to list another language on your CV is always valuable and gives you a better chance at both being hired and increasing your salary.
Having an additional language under your belt proves to your potential employer that you are dedicated, intelligent, and able to learn and retain new information.
Spanish in particular is a valued asset since there are so many Spanish speakers in different parts of the world. You may need to interact with companies that are based out of a Spanish-speaking country.
Even if you don’t necessarily need Spanish for your job, it can prove valuable if you happen to have any customers who speak the language.
One particular benefit you can find as an Indian who speaks Spanish: there are very few Spanish-speaking Indians! The number of people studying Spanish in India is so low that there is no real data. A liberal estimate is that there are 25,000 people studying Spanish in India, including people of all ages. Similarly, the number of immigrants from Spain and Latin America to India is so low that there is no data.
This means there is a low number of people who will know a language found in India and Spanish at the same time. This is a very unique skill set!
Bilingual Skills Are Highly Valued in the US
If you want to work in the United States, then Spanish is a language you will definitely want to know!
Due to migration, Spanish is the second most-spoken language in the United States, with about 41.8 million people who speak Spanish at home. This means that the probability of dealing with Spanish-speaking workers or customers is extremely high! And, some people speak only Spanish with limited or no English at all.
If you want to live in a large city like L.A., NYC, or any state on the Southern border including Florida, you will definitely want to know Spanish. Even companies hiring for entry-level jobs like waitstaff and cashier prefer employees who speak Spanish.
The Number of Spanish Speakers is Increasing
Spanish is the 4th most spoken language in the world, following English, Hindi, and Mandarin. Spanish is an official language in 21 countries, and there are about 572 million people who speak it worldwide.
In addition to Spain and Latin America, Spanish is also spoken in a few places in Africa, Australia, Switzerland, the Philippines, and Japan.
It seems that the number of Spanish speakers will only increase in the future and may become one of the most important languages in international trade. The British Council even reported that the UK should focus on getting more people to learn Spanish in the future.
Have Better Travel Experiences
It goes without saying that a trip to a Spanish-speaking country will be much more fun if you know the language, but it’s still a huge benefit worth mentioning!
When you can read the signs and communicate with the people, you’ll be able to find your bearings much more quickly. You can navigate different situations easier, and go off the beaten path with the confidence that you’ll be able to ask for help if needed.
You can make friends with locals, haggle at markets, and make sure that your taxi driver is taking you the fastest route! And, it’s another tool to immerse yourself and learn even more about the culture.
Spanish is Valuable in Many Industries
Spain is known for its automotive industry, medical technology, shipbuilding, textiles, tourism, and mining.
Latin America’s main industries include precious gems and metals, oil and petroleum, coffee, soy, sugar, and other agricultural exports. In fact, if all of the Latin American countries were instead one country, its economy would be third in the world by GDP.
According to a 2019 official US trade report, 3 of the 5 top countries that the US traded with (in the Western hemisphere) were Spanish-speaking ones: Mexico, Chile, and Colombia. Brazil was also one of the top 5, but the official language of Brazil is Portuguese (which is easier to learn if you also know Spanish!).
Specific industries where Spanish is highly valuable in the US include finance and banking, healthcare, law, and marketing.
Many countries trade with Spanish-speaking countries, meaning Spanish is of high value for worldwide trade.
If you want to go into the hospitality industry, you can never know too many languages! Whether you work at a hotel where travelers may come and stay, or you work on an airline as an attendant or pilot, you will probably encounter people who communicate best in Spanish.
And we can’t forget about Spanish cuisine! Although some people tend to think that Spanish or Latin American food isn’t that great, all it means is they haven’t had it prepared correctly.
Authentic Spanish foods are flavorful and filling, with lots of heavenly spice. Latin American cuisine is heavily influenced by the indigenous people who lived there before the Spaniards came, so there are different styles of food from all over to learn about.
Gain Access to Spanish Media
Spanish is the third most-used language on the internet and the second most-used language on YouTube. With speakers all over the world, it’s not surprising that people will connect through the common language they have!
Historically, many famous artists have been Spanish or Latin American: Pablo Picasso, El Greco, Diego Velasquez, Francisco Goya, Salvador Dali, Joan Miro, Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Jose Clemente Orozco, Maria Izquierdo, Anita Malfatti, Clemencia Lucena, Amelia Pelaez, Fernando Botero, and Antoni Tápies are just a few examples.
Classical composers include Manuel Ponce, Ricardo Castro, Agustín Barrios Mangoré, Ernesto Lecuona, Manuel de Falla, and Joaquin Rodrigo. Modern famous musical artists include Selena Quintanilla, Ricky Martin, Jennifer Lopez, Carlos Santana, Shakira, Plácido Domingo, Julio Iglesias, Enrique Iglesias, Teresa Berganza, and Victoria De Los Ángeles.
And for writers, consider Miguel de Cervantes, Federico García Lorca, Arturo Pérez-Reverte, Rosa Montero Gayo, Julia Alvarez, Isabel Allende, and Laura Esquivel.
Of course, there are hundreds of other artists in every field, which are far too many to list!
By knowing Spanish, you will be able to access and understand a whole new world of the internet, books, poems, arts, and more that you never could before. Even though some things may have translations, part of the message inherently gets changed by the translator’s interpretation.
When you can access the media directly, you can make your own interpretations directly from the artist.
Become a Bigger Football Fan
What are Spanish countries most known for these days? Football of course!
Madrid and Barcelona have two of the most well-known football clubs in the world, and their rivalry is so famous that matches between them are referred to as El Clasico. The Spanish football league, La Liga, was named the best League of the Year.
Many football players speak Spanish including, Lionel Messi, Sergio Ramos, Diego Costa, David Silva, Luis Suarez, Sergio Aguero, Cavani, Alexis Sánchez, and James Rodríguez.
It is a popular opinion that the best way to watch a football match is in Spanish. In the US, many English speakers who don’t know Spanish at all will watch matches in Spanish because of the passion that the commentators bring. That passion can only be found in a language like Spanish. And if people want to watch and they don’t even understand it, imagine how much more exciting it is to know what is being said!
There are other notable sports popular in Spain as well, including basketball, tennis, cycling, handball, futsal, motorcycling, and Formula One racing. In Latin America, you can also find baseball, boxing, volleyball, cricket, and polo.
Where to Learn Spanish?
You know that you want to learn Spanish, but where can you go to make it happen?
There are a few different choices you can consider for your language-learning journey.
In-Person Classes and Tutors
You can find Spanish courses at Instituto Cervantes, an institution in New Delhi meant to raise awareness of Hispanic culture that was founded by the government of Spain in 1981.
Other popular institutions include Instituto Hispania and School of Spanish, both in Delhi.
You may be able to find local tutors through ads, through your school, through an after-school program, or through word-of-mouth.
Online Classes and Language Centres
Since Spanish is such a niche language to learn in India, it can be difficult to find somewhere to learn it locally. Enter, the internet!
The popular Indian-run online courses for Spanish are Henry Harvin Language Academy and The Institute of Spanish Studies.
Finding an online tutor gives you the ability to search per your unique specifications and receive individualized attention. With Superprof, you are able to search by different criteria and easily find a tutor right for you.
There are also many free apps to try when learning a language.
Specialized Courses
If you need to take specific types of Spanish language courses, say, business or healthcare, and it directly relates to your job, you may be able to ask your employer to provide classes for you!
If you need to find these lessons yourself, you can again enlist a tutor, or you may be able to find a specialized program through another institution.
Immersion and Travel
One exciting way to learn any new language is to dive right in with the locals. You may be able to find a program specifically for people who want to learn by traveling to a Spanish-speaking country, or you can go it alone.
You can travel with a program that teaches formal classes as well as gives tours around the city, and gives you free time to explore on your own. You can also see if you can stay with a family, perhaps in exchange for work, and learn from them and the area they live in.
5 Books To Learn Spanish At Home
- "Practical Spanish Grammar" by John G. Báez: This book is a comprehensive guide to Spanish grammar, with clear explanations and plenty of exercises to help you practice what you've learned.
- "Madrigal's Magic Key to Spanish" by Margaret Madrigal: This popular textbook is designed to teach Spanish in a fun and engaging way, using stories and illustrations to help you learn new words and phrases.
- "The Everything Learning Spanish Book" by Bruce Sallee and Adrian Wentworth: This book is a great resource for beginners, with chapters on grammar, vocabulary, and culture, as well as practice exercises and a dictionary of common words and phrases.
- "Spanish Demystified" by Jean Yates: This book is a self-teaching guide to Spanish, with clear explanations of grammar and vocabulary and plenty of exercises to help you practice what you've learned.
- "Spanish for Dummies" by Susana Wald and Cecie Kraynak: This book is another good resource for beginners, with chapters on grammar, vocabulary, and culture, as well as practice exercises and a glossary of key terms.
Although Spanish might be a rarity to find in India, it is used in many places throughout the rest of the world. It’s only a matter of time before it becomes more popular in India due to its importance in many different industries!
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