In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept 15- Oct 15), we asked our Spanish Teacher, Ms. Aguirre, to share some important facts about learning the Spanish Language and how mastery of this skill can support students as they become leading adults in the future.
SPANISH IN THE 21st CENTURY
As the world becomes more interconnected throughout the 21st century, it will become increasingly important to learn new languages and foster new perspectives and ways of looking at the world.
1) It will boost your employment prospects
In today’s global marketplace, knowledge of a second language can be an extremely valuable asset to employers and employees alike. Modern businesses are always keen to have staff members who can help them with international trade and the Spanish language is especially valuable in the current climate.
2) You could work or study abroad
While traveling can be exciting in and of itself, learning Spanish also opens up the very real possibility of either working in a Spanish-speaking country or studying in a Spanish-based academic institution. Getting out of your comfort zone and spending prolonged periods in an overseas country can help you to develop professionally and personally.
3) Bilingual people experience several health benefits
Multiple studies, including one from the University of Ghent in Belgium, show that acquiring a second language can help to delay the onset of Alzheimer’s Disease and can postpone dementia symptoms. A similar study from the University of California, San Diego, found a correlation between language proficiency and the extent of the delay.
4) It can improve the grasp of your first language
Believe it or not, studies have demonstrated that learning a second language can improve a student’s grasp of their mother tongue. When you think about this in more depth, it makes complete sense, as acquiring a second language requires a person to think carefully about linguistic theory, or ‘the rules’.
5) Learning Spanish makes you more employable
Learning Spanish makes you more employable. Spanish is one of the six official languages of the United Nations, and the third most-used language in the media. Spanish is an important language for anyone working in the business. According to The Economist, learning Spanish will net you an additional $51,000 in life. Oh, did we also mention that 10% of the language used on the Internet is in Spanish?