Embrace your place in The States
Do you want to improve your
job prospects, increase your chances of finding love and immerse yourself in
another culture without leaving your hometown? Look no further than the Spanish
language! It’s America’s second most spoken, and most widely taught,
non-English language. It’s also the country’s fastest growing language – period. Once dismissed by many native
English speakers, the cultural, political and economic relevance of Spanish can
no longer be ignored. Here are seven reasons why learning Spanish will enrich
your life.
The most practical thing that
the growth of Spanish in the United States means for you is jobs, jobs and jobs! Long-held attitudes throughout the United States
have rejected bilingualism, insisting that immigrants learn English and that
their children be educated only in English. This has resulted in English-only
policies being adopted in many states, including California’sProposition 227. This attitude is proving more and more shortsighted by the day;
immigrantshave learned English,
and their children are often perfectly bilingual, whereas children in
monolingual English-speaking families have not learned other languages and thus lack a necessary skill set for our
globalized economy.
When faced with the choice of
two equally qualified candidates, employers in all fields say they will choose
a candidate who can speak another language – especially Spanish – over a
monolingual candidate. Spanish has long been a privileged or required skill in
several fields, including education, healthcare, social services, customer
service, etc. But thanks to global trade agreements, an interconnected global
economy and the continued growth of Spanish in the US – both in terms of size
and prestige – the benefit of having Spanish on your resume is now relevant in
almost every conceivable field. Make the investment in your future!
When the number of native
speakers and second language speakers are combined, the United States, with its
roughly 50 million Spanish speakers, is the second
largest Spanish speaking country in the world,
behind only Mexico and ahead of Colombia, Spain and Argentina. Some projections
indicate that the US could even surpass Mexico by 2050 and become the world’s
largest Spanish-speaking country.
We are a melting pot of
immigrants from all over Latin America and, as a result, Spanish-language media
and cultural outlets increasingly seek to bridge cultural and dialectical
differences, subsuming dozens of nationalities under the origin-neutral
identity of “Latino.” The resulting “neutral” Latin American Spanish spoken on
stations like Univision and Telemundo is increasingly taking on its own
character – and inevitably seeping back into spoken Spanish. The influence of
the old country Spain as a reference point for proper Spanish will continue to
wane and the United States is situated to replace it as the site for standard
(American!) Spanish, which embraces all Spanish-speaking cultures while
privileging none.
Practically, this means that
the Spanish you learn and are exposed to here will make you the most
well-equipped to travel all over the Spanish-speaking world and communicate
with native speakers from many different countries and cultures. Become a part
of our country’s thriving second language – and help shape its future!
Spanish may find its way into
your life, whether you plan on it or not! The increasing size of the
Spanish-speaking population across the United States means significantly
increased odds of finding a partner or spouse who comes from a family where
Spanish is spoken (or even ending up with someone whose own first language is
Spanish!). More effectively being able to communicate with your mother-in-law
may not be desired in every case, but it’s a more effective way to win over
parents who are skeptical about your ability to participate in family life. If
you like your partner’s Spanish-speaking family, this will be a way for you to
better integrate with them. If you don’t like them, at least you’ll be able to
understand what they’re saying about you!
The impending repeal many
English-only education laws around the country, combined with a globalized
economy that necessitates multilingualism, means dramatically increasing
opportunities for bilingual education in the United States. If you are
currently a parent or thinking about becoming one, you may be considering
bilingual education, after school language classes, or language tutoring for
your child. At the very least, your kids will likely have Spanish as a foreign
language as part of their regular school curriculum. Learning Spanish alongside
your child will be a motivator for both of you. Use his or her designated
homework time as an excuse to sit down and work on your own Spanish. You’ll be
inspired by the ease with which your child picks up the language, and you will
be able to help when it comes to more complex topics, like grammatical
structures. For your son or daughter, Spanish will cease to be just another dry
subject in school forced upon them by adults, but something living and
breathing, something with which they can interact and unleash their natural
creativity.
Spanish is classified as one
of the easiest languages for native English speakers to learn due to its
grammatical and cultural proximity to English. It is also the most omnipresent
language in our society after English, meaning vastly more opportunities to
speak it, hear it and read it. If you live in New York, Florida or the
Southwest, chances are there’s anywhere from a substantial to a majority
Spanish-speaking population nearby. Spanish language television and radio
abound. Most services in major cities are available in Spanish, and the second
most likely language to be displayed on signage is Spanish. In other words, if
you are looking to effectively learn a foreign language, Spanish is the closest
you will get to true immersion without leaving home.
Your Spanish doesn’t have to
be perfect, or even fluent. If you are able to convey and understand some basic
ideas, regardless of your mastery of grammar, you will be able to interact with
a much larger portion of the population and integrate yourself deeper into your
community. Even gestures go a long way; attempting words and phrases in Spanish
with your Latino neighbors – even if they speak perfect English – will generate
goodwill and mutual inclusion. You may even find yourself in a position to help
someone out by translating or giving directions. At the very least you will
elicit a grateful smile from native speakers for your efforts. Speaking Spanish
is not just a way to learn more about other cultures, but also about your own
culture, your city and your community. Understand your environment better
through the eyes of an immigrant and the experience of the Latino community.
Spanish in the USA not only
has a booming present and a promising future, but also a rich past. The
southwestern states were part of the Spanish empire, and later Mexico, before
being annexed by the United States. Spanish was spoken in the southwestern
states long before English, as evidenced by its rich Spanish toponymy (place names).
Being able to understand their literal meanings offers a whole new insight into
the characteristics of the places and their history. California is home to
places like Merced (mercy), Fresno (ash tree), Madera (wood), Salinas (salt
mines), Ventura (good fortune, happiness), Calabasas (pumpkins), Encinitas
(little oaks), Corona (crown), Chula Vista (beautiful view) and the beautiful
bilingual redundancy of the La Brea Tar Pits (the tar tar pits). The abundance
of Spanish place names extends far and wide and even includes the names of
several other US states: Florida means flowery, Nevada means snowy and Montana
means mountain, just to name a few!
Spanish in the US is different
from any other foreign language for a very simple reason: it’s not foreign at
all! It’s an integral part of of North America’s past, present and future, and
its influence will only continue to rise dramatically. Embrace America’s second
language and enrich your life in more ways than you can imagine!