Spanish

Why Spanish?

1. Spanish is a global language useful for business

Spanish is the mother tongue of more than 400 million people around the globe, approximately six percent of the world’s population. It’s a useful language to know when doing business with Spanish or Latin American firms, and a great way to strengthen your CV and improve your career prospects. In the United States alone there are over 50 million people who speak Spanish as their native or second language.

2. Spanish is the official language of 20 countries with rich cultures and stunning views

Spanish is probably one of the most important languages to learn if you love to travel. Spanishspeaking countries are extremely beautiful and diverse, with stunning landscapes and rich cultures. For example, Spain alone has 48 UNESCO heritage sites and Mexico has 35. As very few people in these countries speak English, learning to speak Spanish is both essential and rewarding. Even a few simple Spanish phrases will bring you warmth and hospitality galore.

3. Spanish gives you access to world-class literature and film

Learning Spanish will give you access to historical and modern classics in their original form, allowing you to better appreciate the beauty of Spanish and Latin American film and literature. Apart from savouring Pablo Neruda’s poetry and Gabriel García Márquez’sCienaños de soledad (One Hundred Years of Solitude), you can also enjoy Oscar-winning films like Todosobre mi madre (All About My Mother) (1999), Mar adentro (The Sea Inside) (2004) and El laberinto del fauno (Pan’s Labyrinth) (2007).

4. Knowing Spanish gives youunforgettable study abroad experiences

There are many universities, colleges, high schools and other organizations that offer a variety of study abroad programs and exchanges. You may be required to have a year or a semester of language study in order to participate. Think about the number of exotic countries where you can have the experience of a lifetime, like Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Peru…the list goes on.

5. Learning Spanish brings you joy and positivity

You may be surprised to hear that Spanish has a lot of words associated with positive emotions.Researchers from the University of Vermont analysed billions of words from 10 different languages and concluded that Spanish had the highest average usage of “happy” words.Many of these words evoke an attitude that is carefree, relaxed and optimistic.