10 Career-Related Reasons to Learn Spanish
In many countries around the world, learning a second language is mandatory. Although it isn’t manditory in the United States, there are many reasons to learn Spanish. Today, we are going to talk about how learning Spanish can help you, career-wise.
Most people take a language in high school for several years. But as soon as they graduate, they can’t remember a single word they learned.
It’s daunting to learn a new language. And yet there are endless benefits to doing so. More and more young professionals are turning to Spanish to expand their horizons.
Over 37 million people speak Spanish in the United States alone. Learning a language can open up so many career opportunities. This is a skill that can change your life.
Here are the top 10 career-related reasons to learn Spanish.
1. More Career Opportunity
One of the most compelling reasons to learn Spanish is that it opens up a new dimension of job prospects and options. Latino and Hispanic populations are growing in the United States and around the world. It’s, for this reason, that job applicants who can speak Spanish are in growing demand.
The Spanish-speaking market is large. The business and media industries are always looking for ways to tap into that market. A candidate looking to enter those fields will be at a high advantage.
Many companies located in the U.S. near the border of Mexico prefer candidates who can speak Spanish.
Also, there are certain professions that require you to be bilingual. The most obvious one is becoming a translator.
Spanish will also benefit you as a lawyer, medical professional, social worker, or educator. There’s no end to the ways it can impact your role in the workforce.
2. Stand out in the Job Market
Being fluent in Spanish will set you apart in the competitive job market. Most high-level executives look for language skills from job applicants.
Speaking more than one language is a sign of intelligence and independence. It’s particularly impressive to prospective employers. Even if the field you want to enter doesn’t require bilingualism, it’s still an indelible asset.
3. Work Abroad
Knowing Spanish will expand your world. It will make it possible for you to work abroad in Spanish-speaking countries.
Twenty countries have Spanish as their native language. Over 400 million people in the world use it as their primary form of communication.
In some careers, you’ll have the opportunity to work in other parts of the world. Speaking Spanish will increase the chances of you being able to successfully. This can be an incredible experience that you’ll never forget.
You won’t only able to work in Spanish-speaking countries. Hispanic populations are all over the world. In Europe, Spanish is the second most popular second-language next to English.
Speaking Spanish will help you communicate with coworkers, clients, employees, and the culture around you. It builds stronger relationships and bridges the gap between international businesses.
Overall, people have stronger interpersonal relationships when they can communicate. This is especially true for the increasingly globalized market. It will help you collaborate with experts in the growing international marketplace.
4. Improve Native Language Skills
Learning Spanish will also help you with your native language. If you’re an English speaker, you will become an even better English speaker.
Research has shown that knowing a second language improves your first language skills. It helps you with reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
The process of learning a new language is about deconstructing each of its elements. You learn grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structure. This will open your eyes to how these components work in English or any other language.
It opens people’s eyes in a new way to understand their first language.
5. Help Others
Expanding your communication abilities will enable you to help others. It will give you opportunities to volunteer or enact change during your lifetime.
Some regions of Spanish-speaking companies live in poverty. Knowing the language means you’ll be able to help in a meaningful way as part of a charity organization. You’ll be able to bring your career skills to another part of the world.
You may also have the opportunity to help others in your work. Chances are you’ll have a client, patient, or coworker whose first language is Spanish.
If you’re a doctor, for instance, you may have a patient who speaks Spanish as their primary language. Small nuances in speech matter. Communicating with them will better help you address their needs and concerns.
6. Become More Outgoing
Any skill gives a person more confidence. Languages are a social, communicative skill. They open you up to new conversations and cultures.
If you know Spanish, you can do things such as read Hispanic newspapers and media. This will give you a more well-rounded understanding of different cultures.
A new cultural understanding will help you in your daily life and interactions. It will also open you up to new art, foods, and history. This will make you a more well-rounded individual.
A big part of the process is learning to have fluent exchanges in Spanish. This skill will make you more outgoing and articulate as a communicator.
Command of language means carrying your head higher and with more self-assurance.
7. Travel With Confidence
Traveling can enrich your life and make you a more interesting person. This will always help you on your career path.
Travel experiences can be anxiety-inducing if you don’t know the language of a place. Spanish will get rid of that fear and allow you to travel with confidence. It will break down cultural barriers and improve your experiences.
Traveling to a country like Spain without knowing the language can be limiting. You’re in some ways confined to tourist spots and popular destinations. But if you do know Spanish, you’re more likely to explore new areas.
If you know the language, there’s less of a need for tour guides. It allows you to travel alone and be more independent. You can also be the de facto translator for family and friends.
Being fluent will allow you to go to beautiful countries for your well-deserved holidays and vacations.
8. Earn More Money
Spanish won’t just help you land great opportunities. It’s also an indicator of the level of success you’ll have in a job. Studies have shown that knowing a foreign language leads to higher wages.
Knowing Spanish might lead to bonuses and other perks. It can also help you earn more money in the long-term.
As mentioned before, the job market is very competitive. Spanish will give you an edge when it comes to negotiating salary and wages.
9. Learn Faster
Learning another language has a positive impact on the brain.
Spanish will help you learn things faster. Language skills improve cognitive brain function and boost memory. Studies show bilinguals have higher memory retention rates and shorter learning curves.
Bilingualism improves a person’s ability of perception. It allows you to see other people’s perspectives and to empathize with them. This is valuable when it comes to business negotiations and managing a company.
Learning Spanish can also help your decision-making process. The act of speaking a new language involves making minute-to-minute decisions. A busy job involves making split decisions, sometimes under pressure.
Research has shown that people make better decisions in a second language. This has to do with having “psychological distance” from that particular language. It allows you to think in a clear, rational way.
All of this will assist you in your career. But this will also translate into other areas of your life.
10. Overcome Fears
There’s no doubt that going from English to Spanish can be scary at times. It’s vulnerable to learn something new and to put yourself out there. There will be moments along the way where you’ll be terrified of embarrassment and failure.
Fluency in a new language is a triumph over these fears. You will come out on the other side evolved as a person.
This newfound fearlessness will benefit you in your career. It will help you take creative and inspired risks as a professional.
Conquering fear can help you with your job in small ways as well. Whether it’s an important presentation or meeting, language skills give you confidence.
Of course, overcoming fear will also impact your life in unexpected ways. What’s beneficial in your career always affects how you live.
Read More on the Reasons to Learn Spanish
Now that you’ve absorbed the many reasons to learn Spanish, it’s time to get started.
You can jump into Spanish-speaking by taking a class or personal lessons. There are also many resources available online for teaching yourself the language. Read more here to start learning key phrases and vocabulary.
To hear more life-improving tips, check out these lifestyle articles.
