| Because of the increasing cultural diversity in America | | | | customer on the other end of the line has a problem |
| today, learning Spanish will give you the edge to | | | | or needs information about your company or |
| successfully reach the Hispanic Market. | | | | products? What do you do then? Some food for |
| Currently 11.5 % of the US population speak Spanish at | | | | thought. |
| home. By 2050 the number of Spanish speakers is | | | | If learning a few phrases is your goal, you can use |
| expected to increase to 530 million with the Spanish | | | | Rosetta Stone or similar software products in the |
| speaking population of the US alone currently | | | | market to achieve this objective. These products will |
| increasing at more than 1 million per year. American | | | | give you a foundation of fundamental vocabulary, but |
| businesses now have a major stake in reaching this | | | | will not teach you to communicate effectively at a |
| major market segment, as well as its countries of | | | | professional level. |
| origin, notably, Latin America. | | | | Learning a second language is a more complex |
| Companies should realize the importance or reaching | | | | process that should not be simplified or |
| this fast growing Hispanic market. If your business has | | | | underestimated. It means being able to communicate |
| bilingual employees, the Spanish speaking community | | | | effectively, ask and provide information, sell products, |
| will not hesitate to do business with you. You will be | | | | services, solve problems and most important, building |
| able to service their needs without making them feel | | | | relationships with customers. |
| out of place. | | | | Being from Spain and after many years or experience |
| In the private sector, Spanish speakers in an | | | | as a Spanish trainer, I can assure that language and |
| organization have a distinct competitive advantage in | | | | culture go together. There is not one single variety of |
| the work place. Our Hispanic population continues to | | | | Spanish. There are major differences between the |
| grow with no intention to abandon their beloved | | | | Spanish of Mexico, Central America, northern South |
| language. A need for Spanish speakers in the private | | | | America, and Southern South America, not to mention |
| workplace is a fact. | | | | such places as Puerto Rico, and, of course, the |
| In the public sector (government and education, for | | | | motherland, Spain. |
| example), Spanish-speaking employees are especially | | | | Getting to know the Hispanic culture as well as the |
| valued. Spanish speakers who handle customer | | | | language will guarantee your business success in |
| service with a large Hispanic client population can be | | | | reaching the fast growing Hispanic market. |
| the difference between a good first impression of the | | | | Having employees learn Spanish can be a great |
| organization and a negative experience. | | | | benefit to your business, especially if you are located in |
| It is very important to realize that learning Spanish is | | | | some parts of the country, such as Southern Florida, |
| not memorizing a few questions and answers you use | | | | Southern California and parts of New York City, |
| all the time. This would only help you get by in a short | | | | where Spanish is no less dominant a language than |
| telephone conversation. Then, what do you if the | | | | English. |