Do you know that more than 483 million people have Spanish as their mother language and, more than 580 million people speak Spanish? Spanish is the world’s second-most common mother tongue (after Mandarin). For demographic reasons, the world percentage of people who speak Spanish is increasing.
Instituto Cervantes estimated that almost 22 million students were learning Spanish as a second language in 2019.
The Spanish language has influenced the world through literature, music, art, and gastronomy. Spanish is known as the language of Cervantes because of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, author of El ingenioso hidalgo don Quijote de la Mancha (1605). During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, there was extensive development of art and culture in Spain in which the kings became patrons of architects, painters, and sculptors. At this time, great writers and authors of works of art in all fields emerged. This era is known as the Golden Age.
Spanish is a rich language with a lot of synonyms, making it ideal for poetry.
Some people may be scared of the wide range of vocabulary or the complexity of grammar, but don´t worry, it is easier than you think.
David Martínez, HWO’s coordinator for Spanish, tells us about the importance of learning Spanish in 2022.
Why Should You Learn Spanish?
Spanish is an emergent language for several reasons like business, culture, globalization, or mobility. People nowadays are searching to learn a third or fourth language, not only a second one. Spanish is growing to the point of becoming the third most used language on the internet and according to most statistics, the second most spoken language in the world. Learning Spanish will open you the door to new opportunities such as job offers, studying abroad, or simply traveling.
Spanish is the official language of twenty countries and is commonly spoken in countries such as the United States, the Philippines, Belize, Andorra, and Gibraltar. Learning Spanish will give you extensive cultural baggage because you can learn about different countries.
Is Spanish Really That Difficult to Learn?
Like every language, it has its difficulties, depending on your native language and your previous experience of learning another language. Spanish is part of the Romance Languages, so it has similarities to Portuguese, Italian, French, Catalan, and others. You can find similar words and structures with these languages. Of course, there´s also the possibility of falling into false cognates.
Even though there are different accents, we pronounce most of the words the way we read them. That is an advantage for learning Spanish. Grammar is probably the most difficult part of learning this language, we have a lot of conjugations, and tenses can be tricky sometimes. Don´t get discouraged, dedication and practice will help you.
If you are going to learn Spanish, stay in a specific region or country. Although people will understand you if you travel, some words change from one country to another, especially food words.
Is Spanish a Good Language to Learn in 2022?
Definitely! Spanish is one of the languages with more growth in recent years. As I already said, Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world. There are many countries whose native language is Spanish, so as a consequence, it´s really beneficial for business and traveling.
Where Can I Learn Spanish with International House?
There are many International House schools around the world that teach Spanish, with nine in Spain and six in Mexico. Plus schools in Colombia and Uruguay.
