Did you know that the United States has no official language?
While English is the most commonly spoken language in the country, the US has always been extremely diverse, and as such, has left its official language undefined.
Spanish is the second most common language, not only in the United States but in the entire world. An astounding 20 countries have declared Spanish their official language, and over 400 million people worldwide are native speakers of the language.
Because of these overwhelming statistics, if you’re interested in learning a second language, Spanish is a no-brainer. But maybe you need a little more convincing before getting started. Well, that’s where we come in!
In this article, we go over 7 reasons why you should learn Spanish to improve all aspects of your life!
1. Become a Confident Traveler
With so many Spanish speakers in the world, if you’re an avid traveler, chances are you’re going to run into your fair share of them.
Many of these countries are rated poor or worse when it comes to English proficiency. By learning Spanish, you’ll be able to communicate effectively with any English or Spanish speakers.
You’ll also save money on your travels, as you’ll be able to forgo any travel guides or other tools that you might need to get around otherwise.
Not to mention, you’ll be able to haggle with the best of them! No more “tourist prices” because you can’t quite understand what the merchant you’re dealing with is saying.
2. Get Better Job Opportunities
If you’re looking to move up in your career, or even begin a new career entirely, learning Spanish is a great way to help you do so!
Many employers are now looking for bilingual hires, and you can make more money by knowing more than just English.
Not only will you be a more attractive hire to employers, but you will be able to communicate with any Spanish speaking coworkers or clients with ease.
You may even get more out of your job with opportunities to travel abroad or get inspired to volunteer in a Spanish speaking country!
3. Make New Friends
There are many apps and websites available to help you in learning a new language. And on these apps are other people, either trying to learn Spanish as well, or Spanish speakers practicing their English!
By interacting with these people, either by practicing with them or teaching them English in exchange for help with your Spanish, you’re sure to make a few new friends along the way.
When you gain enough of a grasp of the language, you can travel to other countries, forming lasting friendships with those you meet. Or stay closer to home and bond with your Spanish speaking neighbor!
4. Improve Your English
Did you know that learning a new language can actually improve the language you already know?
While learning Spanish, you will be forced to take a deep dive into grammar and other language rules, such as those in this Spanish preterite guide.
In doing so, you will be improving your English without even trying by brushing up on Latin roots and sentence structure. It can also be very interesting to see all the similarities between Spanish and English. You’ll be surprised to find how many words are similar or identical!
5. Teach Your Children a New Language
By 2050, the United States is expected to have the highest Spanish speaking population in the world.
Because of this, your children will likely need to know the language to thrive in society.
If you learn Spanish now, you’ll be able to teach your children the language! You’ll, of course, be helping them with a new skill, but think of all the fun you’ll have while bonding over this shared activity!
6. Expand Your Entertainment Horizons
Think of how many movies, books, songs, and television shows are in Spanish. By learning the language, you’ll be able to enjoy and understand all of them! You’ll no longer be restricted to English entertainment.
Sure, you can read subtitles in a movie or bob your head to a song without knowing the language, but you won’t get the full benefits without speaking it.
You can also expand your home library with Spanish books and impress your friends with your new favorite Spanish movie!
7. Improve Your Brain Health
One of the best reasons to learn Spanish, other than to speak the second most popular language in the world, is that it improves your cognitive abilities and overall brain health.
And not just your cognitive abilities in terms of languageโyou’ll actually improve your memory and get smarter as well! This is because bilingualism promotes both cognitive reserve and brain plasticity.
Cognitive reserve is essentially your brain’s potential to find alternative solutions to a given problem, while brain plasticity refers to your brain’s ability to rewire itself when needed.
Best of all, practicing a new language can delay and even prevent Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, keeping your brain young and healthy longer.
These Are Great Incentives for Why You Should Learn Spanish!
These are just a few of the many reasons why you should learn Spanish in the near future.
Not only can learning a new language improve every aspect of your life, including your career, social life, and home life, but it can also boost your brain health.
You’ll be able to communicate effectively with the other 400 million Spanish speakers around the world, as well as enrich the lives of others, either by helping them to learn English or teaching new Spanish speakers.
Looking for more tips or advice on everything from travel to fitness? Keep scrolling our blog!
