Without a doubt, the Spanish language is one of the most unique, and one of the most widely spoken languages of our day and age.
From time to time, a lot of people seem to ask me the question, "what are the benefits of speaking Spanish?", and one of the biggest benefits that I usually point to is that Spanish is quickly becoming one of the most used languages in the business world.
Quite a few Americans seem to have a hang up about this particular point. For some reason, they don't see learning another language as a necessary requirement for day to day living; however, the world is quickly changing.
If you're anything at all like me, you want a step up on the rest of the competition and be able to compete in the marketplace with all of the necessary tools at your disposal.
Benefit #1: Bilingual Employees Make More Money
If you know anything about the world of translating, you'll already know that translators are a highly sought out profession by just about everybody on the planet. What are the benefits of speaking Spanish in particular when it comes to translating as a profession?
Starting out, Spanish translators make anywhere from $33,000-50,000 a year. If you're a reliable translator, and you do your work well, you'll quickly see yourself climbing up the corporate ladder in no time. However, translators aren't just needed in the private sector, they're needed everywhere.
Governments all around the world hire translators for a variety of purposes - from peacekeeping missions, interrogations, political campaigns, to humanitarian aid reasons and so forth.
Also, Spanish courses for business are being used by hundreds of companies, since everyone wants in on the action. It's a well known fact that bilingual employees (no matter the profession) will receive better opportunities at the workplace than employees who only know one language. If you can properly translate Spanish, then you will go very, very far in life.
Benefit #2: You'll Be Able To Make Your Way Around Spanish Speaking Communities More Easily
As I mentioned previously in this article, Spanish is currently spreading around the world like wildfire as a primary source for communication. If you've ever been to the southwestern United States (or live there), you'll especially know what I mean.
Travel can be made a whole heck of a lot easier if you simply start learning Spanish sooner rather than later. Like English, Spanish is a worldwide language and is spoken by millions of communities and individuals around the globe. There is simply no excuse for not knowing at least a rudimentary amount of Spanish phrases, even if you're not a traveler.
I'm willing to bet that most of you have at least one Spanish speaking friend or relative. Wouldn't it be great to be able to communicate with him or her in their native tongue? At least in my experience, one of the best benefits of speaking Spanish is that it makes finding a bathroom in Panama the difference between a nightmare and a cozy dream. Take that simple piece of advice for what you will...just don't say that I didn't warn you!
Benefit #3: Spanish Is Easy To Learn (Especially For Children)
Simply put, Spanish in general is just an overall easy language to learn compared to most. If you aren't bilingual and you're looking for a second language to get acquainted with, why not one of the easiest to learn in the world?
I am in no way discounting Spanish, far from it - I think it's a beautiful and wonderful thing that Spanish is so easy to learn. If you have little ones, learning Spanish for kids can be one of the most rewarding and challenging experiences of their lives...but it's not impossible. That's all I'm saying.
Again, what are the benefits? Of speaking Spanish in particular, your kids will be able to relate to their Spanish speaking friends on a whole new level never before imagined by you or them. Not to mention, you'll be able to carry on a conversation with your child's playmate's mother or father, and impress them with your knowledge of their native tongue. If your little tyke is making friends in the sandbox, why can't you benefit from it as well? Think about it.
All in all, after reading this article I don't think many people out there can argue that the benefits of speaking Spanish are few and far between. There are many more benefits than the ones I've listed here, and I'll be exploring them in future articles.
I hope I've answered the question "what are the benefits of speaking Spanish?" clearly and concisely. My goal is to get the word out about the beautiful Romance language we all know and love, and I hope you'll join me on my quest.
Can you really afford to put off learning Spanish for another minute? Check out the Advocates For Spanish Appreciation blog, where Spanish related ideas and topics are discussed on a regular basis. |
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