The Advantage to Learning Spanish

As an American, the official language of our Nation is English. However, there is another language that is on the rise with-in our nation as well; Spanish. The Spanish language is especially prevalent southern states such as California, Texas, Arizona, and Florida. Each of these states have a higher Hispanic origin population.

Although there are many cultures from around the world and populations of other ethnicity that have settled in the United States, the Latin culture is expansive and Spanish culture originates from several countries all over the world. Spain, Mexico, Cuba, Brazil, Columbia, Ecuador, Chile, Peru, Guatemala, Argentina, El Salvador, Panama, Uruguay, Costa Rica, and Puerto Rico are all Spanish speaking Countries.

America is a land of opportunity, multi-ethnicity and change. People from all over the world have come to the United States to study, create business opportunities, and make a better life for themselves as well as their families.

Businesses have adapted to the rise of the Spanish language. The forms you fill out at the doctor's office, at your job, the bank, or even at the local grocery store have an English or Spanish option. When you call a utility service company for gas, electric, telephone, cable, or water etc, the automated messaging system will prompt you to "Press 1 for English, or Press 2 for Spanish".

Spanish is in the number 2 ranking position for the United States Language, due to the rising population of Spanish speaking occupants.

More and more businesses are looking to hire employees that are bi-lingual, and many businesses will only hire an individual if they speak both English and Spanish. Companies are making this change to meet the business needs of the company, and adhere to their Spanish speaking clientele. From a business perspective, incorporating a second language requirement for their employees is very lucrative and business savvy. This allows the company to expand, and not be limited with their clientele due to a second language constraint. A successful and reputable business must consider their client's needs in order to provide the right service, and maintain an established clientele base. Gaining the trust and loyalty of customers is the bread and butter of any business.

Knowing a second language enables you to be more marketable against competing applicants, makes you more valuable to employers, and will increase your earning potential. Your ability to connect with Spanish speaking clientele just as well as English speaking clientele makes for happy customers and business owners alike. The needs of customers can be met with satisfaction, and the business keeps their customers.

Most often there is a fear involved in learning a new language, a lack of confidence, or perhaps even laziness. In the long run learning a new language is beneficial and holds a certain level of satisfaction. A dual language advantage helps you in developing relationships, (both romantic and business) traveling, and overall opening up your horizons. You will gain more respect from your Spanish speaking peers, colleagues, or clientele by attempting to learn their language. It shows you are making an effort to connect with them and meet them half-way. Even if you can't seem to perfect that 'tongue roll' or match the audible syllables exactly.

There are more advantages to learning a second language than disadvantages. A second language learned, even if learned slowly, over time can become life changing.

Now, thanks to the technology, we have a plethora of options when it comes to learning a new language right at our fingertips and just a click away. Translation and learning apps are readily available to download right to your phone for little to no cost. Here are a few examples of free apps that you can download:

• iTranslate Translator (Translation)
• SpanishDict Translator (Translation)
• Speak & Translate (Translator)
• Spanish Dictionary (Translation with detailed explanation and phrases)
• Spanish Translator Offline (Translator for phrases & listen to pronunciations)
• Rosetta Stone: Learn Languages
• 24 HOURS to Learn Spanish (Organized Lessons for Daily living Categories)

These apps are great learning companions and they are free! If you enter 3-5 different phrases or sentences everyday, especially key phrases or explanations that you use often then you will be learning a second language faster than you originally thought was possible. Think about a conversation you might have had with someone today. What if you needed to express or explain that conversation in Spanish? This is how you learn a language. Focus on the basics and key phrases that pertain to you, your business, or your daily life. Translate these phrases, repeat the phrase 3-5 times, write them down, and then review these phrases on the following day. Writing notes will help you root these phrases or words in your memory, but when can recall the phrases without looking at your notes then you are on your way!

Keep changing with the times and good luck on your new Spanish speaking adventures.

Gracias por leyendo!