martes, 5 de mayo de 2015

Some things you've never realized about the importance of learning Spanish



We all know, or have been told, or have read somewhere...that learning Spanish is a good choice. Why? there are several reasons:
  • Because it is the 2nd most widely spoken language with more than 500 million speakers
  • Because it is the official language in 21 countries
  • Because it will help your career: new job opportunities, new markets, international trade....Latin American countries have been experiencing strong economic growth for years with an estimated GDP growth of 4.67 in 2011. This growth has been propelled by MERCOSUR and other trade, economic and political agreements such as NAFTA, Andean Community of Nations, The Central American Integration System (CACM), and the G3 Free Trade Agreement. So, yes, this is a huge market, and it keeps growing. And what it's more important, learning Spanish will open it for you
  • According to the language researcher David Graddol on a report presented to the British Council, "The world is rapidly becoming multilingual and Arabic and Spanish are both key languages of the future". The same British Council reported Spanish as the most important non-English language to learn (based on cultural, economical, and diplomatic factors). You can read the "Language of the future" report here. This means that not only the US is learning Spanish because of the rapid growing of its Spanish speaker population, but also the British are swapping French for Spanish as more relevant language.
  • Because learning another language will improve your memory and slow age-related decline in mental acuity. And studying another language makes you smarter! Your critical thinking skills will be improved as you learn to view things through a different lens. Learning a second language stimulates creativity! Ok, I know, I know....this can be applied to any language, not only Spanish, but it's still a good thing
  • And because bla bla bla...some more boring and useful reasons....
But we also know that sometimes these, more than valid and good reasons, are not enough to make you run and get your Spanish language course done. So let's talk about the funny part of learning Spanish and how that will change your life.

We said that there are more than 500 million Spanish speakers in the world....those are many new friends (and possible dates) to think about, so by learning Spanish you are expanding your dating pool ;-)

Those over 500 million speakers populate some of the coolest destinations in the world. Forget about the touristy resorts in Cancun and explore thousands of miles of cheap and beautiful Latin America cities, beaches, and trails. Venezuela, for instance, has the longest Caribbean sea coastline of any nation and is considered one of the most mega diverse countries on the planet, with more than 40 percent of its territory protected. Even if you do go to popular destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean, speaking the local language will help you get off the beaten path and see some real culture. And then, of course, you can book a trip to Spain and see the wonders of Barcelona, Madrid, Andalucia and more. Or discover the wonders of routes less travelled such Basque Country, Asturias or Galicia, in the north of the Spanish peninsula.

And, not need to be said, you will understand and enjoy the Spanish literature and films. Around 100 successful authors from 54 countries voted “El ingenioso hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha” by novelist Miguel de Cervantes as the best book of all time. Other Spanish-language authors you’ll want to read are Chilean poet Pablo Neruda — many of whose works have not been translated — Gabriel García Márquez, Isabel Allende, Mario Vargas Llosa, and many more. And then there are the movies. Star directors Pedro Almodóvar, Alejandro Amenabar, Alfonso Cuarón, and Guilermo Del Toro — who all have movies in their native language — should be enough to convince you of the richness of Spanish-language cinema. Also listen to actors and actresses such as Penelope Cruz, Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Benicio del Toro or Javier Bardem talking their mother tonge gives a different taste to the movie watching.

We could also talk about music, Spanish speaker bands and singers are gaining worldwide recognition and fame. Have you ever wondered what Shakira, Juanes, Enrique Iglesias or that beautiful song you were dancing on your last salsa class were saying? Learn Spanish and you will know.

Learning Spanish will give you the chance to support and understand some of the best athletes in the world. Football, tennis, basketball, moto GP, F1...all these sports have top athletes who are Spanish speakers

Furthermore, Spanish is easy to learn. Much of its vocabulary is similar to English's, and written Spanish is almost completely phonetic: look at almost any Spanish word and you can tell how it is pronounced. And while mastering the grammar of Spanish can be a challenge, basic grammar is straightforward enough that you can have meaningful communication after only a few lessons.

Last but not least, learning Spanish is fun!

The satisfaction of accomplishment it's there waiting for you to grab it! For all of the reasons mentioned above, and a whole lot that haven't been mentioned, learning Spanish can be one of the most enjoyable things you will ever do. Whether your motivations are practical, intellectual or sentimental, learning Spanish is something that will benefit you for the rest of your life!

So...¿hablamos español?

If you are interested do not hesitate to contact us, either if you are looking for an intensive course in Spain or Latin America or you would like to learn on-line, we have the solution

2 comentarios:

  1. how much it will cost to learn on-line ? thanks

    ResponderEliminar
    Respuestas
    1. Hi Christin,
      Thanks for your comment.
      Could you please give us an email address were we could contact you and explain all the details?
      Otherwise, please address all your questions to: info@senaistudyabroad.com

      Eliminar