Learning a foreign language has many known neurological benefits.
But what can you really gain if you decide to learn Spanish as a second language?
For starters, Spanish is a fairly easy language to learn, as being a Category 1 Level language means that it's typologically similar to English and also one of the easiest languages to learn for English speakers. In addition, there are many benefits of learning the Spanish language that make it a top foreign language to learn among non-native speakers.
Don't be surprised to find yourself looking up Spanish lessons in your area by the end of this article.
1. Spanish is one of the best languages for travel.
Did you know you can travel to 20 countries with just Spanish alone?
We're not even counting the places where Spanish isn't used as an official language! There are many native Spanish speakers living in parts of the United States and the United Kingdom, and even in the Philippines, approximately 500,000 people speak this language.
It's safe to say that if you've taken enough Spanish lessons, you will be able to use and speak a global language. This can take you to numerous tourist destinations around the world, not to mention help you connect with local guides and residents of the places you visit. Here are some amazing vacation spots where Spanish is spoken as a primary language:
- Iguazu Falls, Argentina
- Tamarindo Beach, Costa Rica
- Machu Picchu, Peru
- Saltos Del Monday, Paraguay
- Roatán, Bay Islands, Honduras
If you can learn Spanish for travel, you should also take note that Spanish is a popular Internet language, ranking third place among the most used languages online as of January this year. So one of the other benefits of learning the Spanish language is that it will allow you to read reviews and recommendations from actual locals without having to use (sometimes) unreliable translations.
Indirectly, you're likely to have a better vacation planning and booking experience, too - that is, if you're ever interested to visit the world's top tourist destinations. It's no wonder that Spanish is also the official language of major international organisations such as the United Nations and the European Union.
2. Spanish can help you gain greater career opportunities.
It's already a benefit if you are bilingual or trilingual in a country like Malaysia, but what happens if you add "Fluent in Spanish" to your resume? Here are some career examples that you can look out for when you've completed all the levels of your Spanish classes:
- Teacher
- Linguistics professor
- Language tutor
- Translator
- Interpreter
- Content writer
- Proofreader
- Video maker
- Tour guide
Other than the fact that there are career opportunities you can gain only with the Spanish language, let's recall that Spanish is also a major language for international relations: in fact, the demand for workers and employees who have a background in Spanish or can speak Spanish is growing at a rapid rate.
As the third most used language in the media, and one of only six official languages of the United Nations, learning Spanish and using it like a native speaker would put you ahead in various employment opportunities. Speaking a foreign language can add between 10 to 15 per cent to your wage, and Spanish in particular will net you an additional USD$51,000 in life.
With the growing economic development of many European and Latin American countries, you can even consider working for an overseas company and potentially experience what it is like living in a Spanish-speaking country.
This is your sign to learn Spanish and try out Spanish lessons or other resources for improving your Spanish.
3. You will have a deeper appreciation for Spanish culture and history.
Malaysians' love for Spanish culture goes beyond just football.
Whether you are a LaLiga fan or not, there's nothing quite like the iconic culture, history and tradition of Spanish football that has captured the hearts of many in Malaysia. But culture and history aren't limited only to sports: art, writing, literature, cuisine, fashion and of course, language are all parts of a nation's way of life.
By taking Spanish classes and learning more about the Spanish language, you'll discover new ways to indulge in the rich history and culture that is Spanish. Since there are various parts of the world that are celebrating Spanish culture in their own unique ways, we ought to start from the centre of it all: Spain.
One of the benefits of learning the Spanish language is gaining access to cultural events related to Spain, often reflecting both its diversity and unifying national identity. We say this because being able to speak Spanish fluently can bring you closer to the Spanish who are celebrating these events, and knowing how to converse comfortably in another person's mother tongue will help you feel more welcome, too.
Learn Spanish and get excited about engaging with Spanish folk in cultural events like these:
- San Fermin - If you were ever curious about running bulls, visit Pamplona in July for the world-famous encierro!
- La Tomatina - Paint the town red (literally)! In August, you can watch the small town of Buñol turn into the home of the world's biggest tomato fight.
- Las Fallas de Valencia - From La Desperta in the morning to the late-night Cremà, take part in this five-day-long March festival in commemoration of San José, the patron saint of carpenters.
You don't have to travel all the way to Spain just to put your Spanish lessons to good use, though. Malaysia is also home to several Spanish cultural events that take place annually, such as the Flavours of Spain Festival which pays homage to Spanish cuisine.
Build your love for Spanish culture and the history of the Spanish language by learning the language!
4. You can enjoy Spanish films and music more.
You know how, sometimes, Malaysian slang just hits different when it's captioned in subtitles?
We all know "Alamak!" isn't exactly represented well with "Oh dear!", and it's safe to say that this local expression should be a standalone term with its own definition and word usage.
The same goes for Spanish phrases and how they are spoken, which we'll often come across in movies, songs, and other forms of entertainment (that is, of course, if you're not residing in a Spanish-speaking country). If you've watched Guillermo del Toro's masterpiece El Laberinto del Fauno, which also goes by the title Pan's Labyrinth, you may remember this moving quote from the film:
Tantas cosas perdidas. Pero todo lo que se perdió puede encontrarse de nuevo.
Very roughly, the line translates to: "Many things were lost. But everything that is lost can be found again.” Even if you can read through the lines, you can see that translations and subtitles alone cannot accurately portray the Spanish that is directed towards the audience, which most of the time only those who understand the language can fully grasp.
Engaging with entertainment in their original language (and understanding it) opens you up to deeper insights than if you had relied on translations.
On a lighter note, watching Spanish movies and listening to Spanish music is more enjoyable when you understand the language and can easily relate to what is being said. The same goes for reading books and literature in the way that Spanish authors, such as Isabel Allende and Miguel de Cervantes, originally wrote their books.
Besides, indulging in Spanish entertainment to find tips for boosting your Spanish learning will give you even more benefits of learning the Spanish language!
5. You can start taking Spanish classes today.
Did you know that the British Council identified Spanish as one of the top "Languages of the Future"?
It's no wonder that Spanish is one of the most learned languages in the world. That being said, you can easily enrol in Spanish lessons pretty much anywhere in Malaysia, whether it is for a physical lesson or a virtual class. We're here to tell you that taking Spanish classes with a Superprof tutor is the best choice for reaping the benefits of learning the Spanish language.
Want to know what makes Superprof stand out as a leading platform for Spanish language learners?
Unlike most language centres that have a fixed learning curriculum and limited choice of tutors, Superprof connects you with over 18,000 Spanish tutors who use a variety of learning approaches catered to their students' needs. Yep, you can connect with Spanish tutors from nearly every corner of the Spanish-speaking world, even from places like Madrid and Lyon.
We strongly believe that students should take Spanish classes that best suit their learning needs. Indeed, that's one of the benefits of learning the Spanish language with a Superprof tutor.
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