10 Reasons to learn Spanish

1. Spanish is one of the most commonly spoken languages in the world

There are more than 480 million native Spanish speakers in the world. Including people who have learned it as a second language, there are now nearly 600 million Spanish speakers in the world. As a result, it is officially recognized as the second most commonly spoken language (ahead of English). It is also the most popular second language choice for people in the United Kingdom and in the United States. A report published recently by the British Council ranked Spanish as the most important second language for British citizens to learn, ahead of French and Chinese.   

2. It can help you land a job at home or abroad 

The demand for bilingual employees in the UK has more than doubled for both low-skilled and high-skilled workers. A rising number of employers prefer individuals who can speak Spanish fluently. By learning Spanish you can greatly improve your job prospects and open yourself to a new world of work and travel possibilities.    

3. Much more enjoyable travel experiences 

Speaking Spanish makes traveling a whole lot easier. Being able to communicate in Spanish will enhance the experiences you will have during your journey and you will feel confident enough to expand your travels further than the usual tourist areas which will allow you to take in a lot more of the country’s culture. You will also be able to meet many new people and form bonds you would otherwise have been unable to.   

4. Spanish is relatively simple to pick up 

Spanish is classified as one of the easiest languages for native English speakers to learn due to its grammatical and cultural proximity to English. English has many words which stem from Latin, just like Spanish, which means some of the words are similar (these words are called cognates). Plus, Spanish is a phonetic language - for the most part, its words are pronounced the way they’re spelled, making it's pronunciation easier to grasp. Spanish is also the most omnipresent language in our society after English, meaning a lot more opportunities to hear it, read it and speak it.    

5. You can work, study or retire overseas    

With warm weather, beautiful beaches, a lower cost of living and a relaxed pace of life, Spain is the ideal place for you to retire in.    

6. Help your children learn Spanish   

You can learn Spanish yourself or at the same time as your children. Either way, by making your children bilingual, you will provide them with an invaluable gift for a lifetime.  

7. Learning Spanish will make you smarter! 

There’s a growing body of evidence that the health benefits of learning a foreign language may be significant. While learning Spanish takes a lot of practice, the learning process helps you enhance your attention spans and create a stronger working memory, as well as improving your decision-making skills.   

8. You will experience multiple health benefits.  

Multiple studies show that acquiring a second language can help to delay the onset of Alzheimer’s Disease and can postpone dementia by up to five years. Studies have also found that bilingual children are better at problem-solving activities than monolingual kids. Multiple evidence suggests that learning a new language improves overall cognitive function.   

9. It improves your knowledge and command of your first language. 

Hard as it is to believe, studies have demonstrated that learning a second language can improve a person's grasp of their native language. When you study another language like Spanish, you are forced to think carefully about linguistic theory and rules and then tie them back to what you already know about English.   

10. And last but not least, learning Spanish is fun and rewarding. 

You will enjoy the process and feel a remarkable sense of achievement when you can communicate in another language!