Top Reasons to Learn Spanish As A Second Language

Spanish is now the second most spoken language in the WORLD, even surpassing English!

Spanish is the second most spoken language in the United States.

The United States is the SECOND largest Spanish-speaking country in the world, and may be the 1st by 2050!

    
It is the dominant language of our southern neighbor: Mexico.

It is the primary language spoken in more than 21 countries.

It is spoken by more than 450 MILLION people.

There are many U.S. companies in Spanish-speaking countries. Many American companies are seeking Spanish-speakers to run their business in Spanish-speaking countries.

Cognitive Benefits - Children in foreign language programs have tended to demonstrate greater cognitive development, creativity, and divergent thinking than monolingual children. Several studies show that people who are competent in more than one language outscore those who are speakers of only one language on tests of verbal and nonverbal intelligence (Bruck, Lambert, and Tucker, 1974; Hakuta, 1986; Weatherford, 1986). (A Rationale For Foreign Language Education - A Position Paper of The National Council of State Supervisors of Foreign Languages (NCSSFL)

Academic Benefits - Studies also show that learning another language enhances the academic skills of students by increasing their abilities in reading, writing, and mathematics. A 1994 report on the impact of magnet schools in the Kansas City Public Schools showed that students in the foreign language magnet schools had boosted achievement significantly (Eaton, 1994). It reported that students in the language magnet's first kindergarten, starting in the program in 1988, had surpassed national averages in all subjects by the time they reached fifth grade. And the foreign language students performed especially well in mathematics. Similar studies with students in intensive second language programs show these students scoring as well as or better than their monolingual peers on standardized achievement tests in basic skills. (Ibid)

Societal Benefits - People who communicate in at least two languages are an asset to the communities in which they live and work. Increasing numbers of jobs now require people who are capable of interacting with people who speak languages other than English and can adapt to a wide range of cultural backgrounds. In addition, the ability to communicate in a foreign language contributes to a student's overall achievement of personal and professional career goals. (Ibid).