If you have got your heart set on learning Spanish, there is no way better way than full cultural immersion. This will help you improve your language skills faster. Here are five reasons why now is the right time you should learn Spanish & study Spanish.
1. Spanish is one of the most spoken languages in the world
According to the Instituto Cervantes, the latest data in 2019 shows that a total of 580 million people speak Spanish – that’s 7.6% of the world’s population - 483 million are native Spanish speakers, which makes Spanish the second mother tongue in the world by number of native-speakers, only behind Mandarin Chinese. In addition, Spanish is studied by almost 22 million people in 110 countries and is the third-most-used language on the internet.
2. You can travel to amazing Spanish-speaking countries
Some of the most beautiful countries in the world have Spanish as their official language, and if you are able to travel to any of these countries with some knowledge of Spanish you will most definitely enrich your experiences, allowing you to meet even more people and interact with local communities and local culture:
Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, México, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Perú, Spain, Uruguay, Venezuela.
3. A foreign language will increase your job prospects & make you a more desirable employee
It’s now common knowledge that a foreign language will make you more employable, and learning Spanish has now become a priority rather than an advantage when looking for a job in any field. According to The Economist, learning Spanish will net you an additional $51,000 in life! Employers are increasing looking for employees who can speak Spanish for a number of reasons, including; Spain has the 14th highest for GDP in the world, Spanish is one of the six official languages of the United Nations, the Latin American market has grown steadily for the last 20 years, and the number of Spanish-speakers is growing in countries like the United States whereas the number of French, English & Mandarin speakers worldwide are in decline.
4. Gain a greater appreciation for Spanish-speaking cultures & enjoy music, theatre, film and literature in their original Spanish forms
Learning another language, like Spanish, will also help you understand cultures that are different to your own.
One of the greatest benefits of studying Spanish is that you will be able to gain access to the world of rich Hispanic culture. Watching movies and series in their original language is always more enjoyable than reading subtitles - sometimes subtitles can completely misrepresent what is being said! The same goes for reading books, like Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s award-winning literature. The same can be applied to music, and you might think twice about repeating the lyrics from a Reggaeton song once you understand what they mean. Engaging with a different culture in their original language will provide you with a totally different understanding and a deeper insight.
5. You could work or intern abroad, getting out of your comfort zone & develop professionally and personally
Whether you are fluent or have just picked up the basics, a foreign language will open limitless opportunities for you around the world. Of course, you will improve your language skills immensely once you touchdown in a Spanish-speaking country - you will find yourself in situations where you have little choice but to speak, practice, master daily the language of the host country, and fully immerse yourself in a foreign office. This will lead to professional & personal development and an abundance of self-confidence.
If you would like to know more about our internships in Colombia, please contact a member of our team. If you would like to learn about our new remote internships - click here.
This blog post was written & published by Intern Colombia on 18 May 2020
Sources:
https://www.interncolombia.com/post/the-benefits-of-interning-abroad
https://www.languagemagazine.com/2019/11/18/spanish-in-the-world/
https://www.rypeapp.com/blog/benefits-of-learning-spanish/
https://www.economist.com/prospero/2014/03/11/johnson-what-is-a-foreign-language-worth
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