Written by Abraham Arechiga - Partner and Co-Founder - Spanish55
Published Aug 5th, 2017- It's the official language of over 20 countries. Its the primary means of communication for approximately 425 million people worldwide. And about 60 million foreign speakers speak it as a second language.
Its cultural reach and influence is broader than ever before and, in the United States, it's marked as the most commonly spoken language, other than English.
It's Spanish. The language is growing and is poised to create a major competitive advantage for those who choose to adopt and learn this language.
Stats Speak Louder than Words
The future of Spanish as a second language is well assured: it's the fastest-growing language in the United States, with the number of speakers growing from 11 million in 1980 to over 37 million in 2013. It's projected growth is estimated to be anywhere from 39 to 45 million by 2020.
Experts attribute this growth to more than just the incorporation of the language into the school system and the increase in Hispanic immigrants. It also has to do with the popularity and prevalence of Spanish-language television shows over their English counterparts.
5 Ways Spanish Is Conquering the Job Market
1. Expanding the Job Search Pool
Use Spanish to expand the number of bilingual job postings you'll suddenly be eligible for.
2. Global and Local
Spanish can be used within the United States as well as abroad. Displaying Spanish as a second language on your resume means that you can act as a liaison within your company for any Spanish-speaking business.
3. Travel and Work Broad
Speaking Spanish opens you up for opportunities that may come up internationally. Because of the prevalence of the language, you could, if you wanted, use the language to work and travel through Spanish-speaking countries with ease.
4. Building Empathy for a Leadership Position
Being able to master Spanish opens you up to an entirely new culture and way of being. Learning new languages can help connect you to others and increase your empathy. This puts you in a perfect position to be considered a leader in your industry.
5. Relating Better in Service-Based Professions
Many service-based professions such as law enforcement, medical professionals such as doctors and nurses, teachers, CSRs and social workers will use Spanish to connect with a growing number of Hispanic and Spanish-speaking individuals in the population.
Ready to Dive In?
Spanish is one of those meet-me-in-the-middle languages. Because its antecedents and etymology are based in Latin, like French and Italian, it shares many similarities that English-speakers can catch on to and practice with ease.
Learning the language can open up a whole new world of communication and conversation and connect you to a diverse group of individuals you may not have otherwise been able to converse with.
There are a couple of strategies for picking up and practicing Spanish. These include constant and daily practice with intuitive language programs such as Rosetta Stone, using language apps on your phone or considering immersive experiences in any one of the 21 countries where the primary language is Spanish.
Another great strategy is to be able to work with a tutor, one-on-one. If you find that you're short on time, learning Spanish online is a great idea that allows you to pace yourself with the lessons but also benefit from live, peer-to-peer conversation. The truth is that the only way to incorporate a language naturally into your roster of languages is to be comfortable enough to use it in all situations and environments.
Online Spanish classes via Skype allow learners to experience real conversations with a native Spanish speaker while receiving guidance and feedback, consolidating an enjoyable environment suitable for effective learning. Thanks to technology, classes via Skype make you feel your Spanish tutor is right beside you.
