In an interconnected world of business and almost everything else, knowing a language or two aside from your own native tongue is definitely an advantage. Learning Spanish is one of the best choices one can make in todays perspective.
For most people engaged in business and commerce, Spanish is the most popular choice as a 2nd or 3rd language. The reason is simple: it is 4th most commonly spoken language all over the world. By some accounts, it has more native speakers than English.
In Europe, it is getting to be the most important foreign language of choice after English. In the United States, Spanish is the 2nd largest spoken language after English. It is the official language on four continents.
Better English
For much of the American population, English is spoken without much understanding. Learning Spanish helps improve ones understanding of English.
One reason for this is the fact that much of the English vocabulary has Latin origins by way of French incorporated into English. Spanish is a Latin language and learning its linguistic intricacies will provide a better understanding of the English language as a whole. Likewise, both Spanish and English have the same Indo-European ancestry that is shared in the similarity of their grammars.
Better understanding of the moods and tenses of English verbs can be had by learning how these verbs are used in Spanish. The study of Spanish actually forces one to reflect on how the English language is structured.
Culture
Language is one of the best ways to understand the culture of other people. Short of living in a Spanish villa, eating their food and singing their songs, learning Spanish somehow infuses these cultural aspects in the language itself.
In learning Spanish, one imbibes the feel and spirit of the people through its rich literary traditions by way of novels and stories, modern or traditional. Whether one reads a Latin American newspaper or watches a film made in Spain, one gains that particular feel of the Spanish soul.
Travel
In a world that gets smaller everyday because of frequent travels of people, Spanish is one language that is understood in many parts of the globe. It is almost guaranteed that you will never get lost in South and Central America, including Mexico and Puerto Rico in the north.
Moreover, because of your Spanish you will get to see more interesting places and enjoy more interesting experiences than the regular tourists who do not speak the language.
Business and employment
Many of todays opportunities in international trade, communications or tourism are expanded by the knowledge of Spanish. There are also quite a number of promising prospects in the medical and educational professions if you know Spanish.
Fun and ease
Learning Spanish is one fun experience because it is one of the easiest foreign languages to study. Much of its vocabulary is similar to English and written Spanish is easier to read because it is almost phonetic.
Although mastering Spanish grammar is a challenge, basic grammar is straightforward. In a few lessons, a student can do basic communications right away. For most, one of the fun reasons to learn Spanish is the fact that it offers the most rewards with the least efforts compared with any other foreign languages.