| There are lots of reasons to learn Spanish. It may be | | | | Europe or Central and South America. |
| for business or travel, for intellectual development, | | | | 6. Learning Spanish helps you develop your critical |
| because you're taking a class, to fulfill a personal | | | | thinking skills. Being bilingual means seeing the world |
| aspiration, for a romantic relationship, or for sentimental | | | | through more than one cultural "filter." This skill helps |
| reasons if you have a Hispanic family heritage. | | | | you to become more aware of cultural interactions on |
| Whatever the personal motivation, there are also | | | | many different levels. |
| some compelling benefits from learning Spanish. | | | | 7. There are health benefits. Learning Spanish may |
| 1. You will have the skills to communicate with over | | | | help you avoid memory related illnesses. Studies show |
| 320 million people around the globe who speak | | | | that bilingual people have better memory motor skills |
| Spanish. | | | | as they age and are less prone to diseases such as |
| 2. Learning Spanish is a lot of fun! It's a chance to | | | | Alzheimer's. |
| experience new music, food, dance styles, and culture. | | | | 8. Learning Spanish makes acquiring the next foreign |
| Knowing Spanish will help you enjoy works of art and | | | | language easier. Learning a foreign language aids in |
| literature from great Spanish speaking writers in the | | | | developing a new set of mental, social, and cultural |
| original language. You can watch foreign films from | | | | skills. This newfound awareness often carries over to |
| Spain or Latin America without relying on the subtitles, | | | | learning other languages. This is especially true with |
| and you can understand the words of Spanish songs. | | | | other Romance languages such as Italian, French, |
| 3. It will help you to communicate in the workplace with | | | | Portuguese, Romanian or even ancient Latin. They will |
| your Spanish-speaking co-workers or employees. | | | | seem like "cousins" to the Spanish you've already |
| Most Spanish-speaking employees do not really want | | | | learned! |
| to translate for you. | | | | 9. Learning Spanish is a great family activity. It can help |
| 4. Learning Spanish may help you to get a better or | | | | your children develop new skills which they can use |
| higher paying job. It may also provide more job security | | | | later in life. It also give you an opportunity to spend |
| with a valuable skill. Translators are in high demand in | | | | quality time with them doing something you can all |
| the educational and health fields, as well as for the | | | | enjoy. Kids tend to learn new languages quickly, and it |
| court system and government agencies. | | | | helps them to develop an awareness of a bigger |
| 5. Learning Spanish is good for business. If you sell | | | | world out there to experience and enjoy. |
| products or services, being able to speak Spanish will | | | | 10. And the top reason to learn Spanish -- It will help |
| allow you to increase your business among the 35 | | | | you to experience and enjoy one of the warmest and |
| million Spanish speaking people who live in the United | | | | richest cultures on earth -- the Latino culture! |
| States, or among the millions of Spanish-speakers in | | | | |