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Why Should I Learn Spanish This is America?

Updated on June 24, 2014

I relocated to Miami, Florida close to a year ago. It was a spur of the moment move, that has greatly enriched my life. I was lucky enough to have a friend that allowed me to stay with him until I was able to find employment. I immediately begin to search for job positions and quickly found that I was lacking a need for most firms. The need was to speak Spanish. Now ashamed , I was very frustrated and exclaimed, "Why should I speak Spanish this is America".

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Spanish Speaking Population in the United States

It is said that approximately 38 million people ages 5 and older speak Spanish in their households, according to an analysis of the 2011 American Community Survey by the Pew Research Center.

Spanish language is, by far, the most spoken non-English language in the U.S.

The number of Spanish speakers in the U.S. has grown significantly in recent decades, reflecting the arrival of new immigrants from Latin America and growth in the nation’s Hispanic population.

The U.S. Census Bureau measure of non-English language use captures how many people say a language other than English is spoken in the home but does not capture how well or how often the language is spoken.

In Miami it is recorded that about 39-40% of the population is dominant Spanish speaking.

Official Language of the United States

Historically there have been many languages spoken in the United States, however the most commonly used language is English.

The United States has chosen not to choose a national official language making English the de facto national language. 80% of the United States population claims English as their native tongue. There have been several proposals to make English the national language in amendments to immigration reform bills, but none of these bills has become law with the amendment intact.

Spanish is the second most common language in the United States, spoken by about 35 million people. The United States holds the world's fifth largest Spanish-speaking population, outnumbered only by Mexico, Colombia, Argentina and Spain.Throughout the Southwestern region of the United States, long-established Spanish-speaking communities coexist with many recent bilingual immigrants. Although many new Latin American immigrants are less than fluent in English, nearly all second-generation Hispanic Americans speak English fluently, while only about half still speak Spanish.


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Did you Know??

  • It is predicted that by 2050 The U.S. will be the biggest Spanish Speaking Country
  • Approximately 40% of the population in Miami are dominant Spanish speaking

Good Reasons to Learn Spanish

Studies show using two languages is good for your health. It is shown that the brain is swifter and more apt to resolve conflict. It is said a person reduces their chances of developing dementia, including Alzheimer's Disease when multilingual. There are additional studies that show language can improve your memory and slow age-related decline in mental acuity.

Spanish is becoming more and more important with regards to business. Learning Spanish will enable you to better communicate with Spanish speaking co-workers and clients. I am a paralegal by education and experience and a great deal of the clientele for a lot of law firms in South Florida are Spanish speaking. Due to the fact that in North America, Hispanic consumers are the fastest-growing market segment, it is a plus to be bilingual (English/Spanish). In the United States, knowing Spanish can be particularly helpful if you work in fields of legal, healthcare or education. Take it from me being able to speak Spanish as well as English will definitely make you marketable.

One of the items on my bucket list is to travel to an exotic, tropical region. I have a desire to travel to Spain on vacation. I am determined to go to the Canary Islands. Being able to speak Spanish would enhance the travel experience. Knowing the language and culture of the land you visit will give you insights into the people and culture that a non-Spanish speaker would never have access to. Being able to order food or drinks in a restaurant, or ask for directions will make your travel experience smoother and more enjoyable when you can communicate. Knowing even a little Spanish ahead of time helps travelers communicate more successfully, especially considering that a great number of Spanish speakers do not know English. If you take a little time to learn some of the Spanish language before heading off to distant lands, your understanding and appreciation for the places you visit will be improved tremendously.

It is predicted that by 2050, 10 percent of the world population will speak Spanish and the United States will be the biggest Spanish-speaking country. This prediction was made by the general secretary of the Association of Spanish Language Academies, Humberto López Morales. He noted that the current situation of Hispanics in the United States is the result of a confluence of historical processes headed by Mexico at the beginning of the 20th century, followed by Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and, more recently, Venezuela and Argentina.It is no secret that the "Land of the Free Home of the Brave" is a very attractive settlement option for a vast amount of Spanish speaking immigrants. "Knowing Spanish is ... among other things, a business," and in some states, like Florida, "Spanish is a good passport for obtaining a job," stated Morales.

© 2014 Kevin L. Love

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