Why is learning Spanish important

Question

Why is learning Spanish important to you rather than learning another language? For me, where I live Spanish is very common, but neighboring communities that use Portugese (Brazilian), French (Creole) and Russian are growing fast.

• This is a great question. - Seitheach Sep 17, 2009
• Thank you. - mctague Sep 30, 2009

Answer 1

Quote from samdie It isn't important to learn Spanish. If you live in the U.S.A., you should be aware that (American) English has been established as a world wide standard for tourism/business/diplomacy. You can travel almost anywhere and find hotel staff/guides/taxi drivers who know enough English for you to communicate your basic needs. You probably have no need to communicate with them on any level beyond the most fundamental/practical (so why bother?). Whenever there is contact between superior and inferior civilizations, it is the inferior civilization that ends up supplying the bulk of the translators (in order to accommodate the superior civilization). Enjoy your superiority! Might makes right!

I have to disagree, even though you are right to a point.

But the fact is, I am my brother's keeper. I'm pretty leery of the superior/inferior model when assuming myself to be superior just because I was born in the US, or the west, or anyplace else.

But even assuming my own superiority, or that of my culture, there are the needy, the helpless, the downtrodden all over the world that need help from somebody. Could that somebody be me?

Can I help bridge the gap between my church and the Hispanic church down the street? Can I be there when some Hispanic immigrant needs transportation to the doctor or some such thing in an emergency? Can I help their children learn to read and speak in English?

Can I go build a church in Guatemala? Can I help feed orphan children in Mexico? Can I enrich myself by learning a little about someone who lives in another culture across the globe?

When I learn Spanish, that's building a bridge from me to a lot of people that I was essentially cut off from before. And perhaps I am then a bridge between them and someone else I know who knows only English.

I'll get by just fine if I don't learn Spanish, sure. But that doesn't mean it's not important. It's very important that I and many others learn to communicate in the Spanish language.

• I just saw this....Great answer!!!! - Nicole-B Oct 2, 2009

Answer 2

So learn Spanish first. Then Portuguese and Italian will be easy. I can already read and write in Italian. I already speak a little Serbo-Crotian because my grandmother and her family all spoke it at home. I'm starting German next but Russian is fascinating.
All in due time.

Answer 3

If you speak Spanish, you can communicate with almost 500 million people worldwide! Think how many more employment options that gives you! And if you want to take a trip to Spain or Latin America, a little knowledge of Spanish will go a long way. Learning Spanish is important for a persons development and for cultural understanding.

Answer 4

For me, the more languages I speak the better English speaker I become. Every time I learn a new language, I learn something about English as well and how what I say actually relates to what I want to say, and the little nuances associated with that.

Answer 5

I am a nursing student, and it was important for me to learn Spanish to better meet the needs of my patients. There exists a growing Hispanic population in our community, yet we are ill equipped to help them. The staff at our local hospital (the only one in the area) has one person on staff in the ER that is bilingual. This is not enough to even cover each shift, less yet to meet our every-growing needs. Hopefully I will have earned a minor in spanish by the time I graduate and I will be able to serve my community in that capacity.

Answer 6

Where I live, Hispanics make up 1/3 of the population and many of them speak Spanish (but also comprehensible English). Spanish is seemingly more widespread these days in the USA. It's definitely the second most important language to learn.

Answer 7

Learning the language of so many of our neighbors - on the block and on the continent - is invaluable in removing one more barrier that keeps us apart from - and afraid of - each other.

Answer 8

It's not important, like capital I Important to learn spanish. It's not. What's important is to love your wife and children...cherish your friends...enjoy your job, etc. That's what's important. Learning spanish, or greek or russian, is something your do after you take care of the Important, capital I Important things in life. Despues de esto, learning spanish is a good thing, a mind opening thing. Might even be good for your soul, to see how the other half lives and how good we have it in the the United States. But Important? Pues...yo no se. . Ask your wife what's more important...rubbing her feet or learning spanish. She'll give your perfect clarity into the prioties of life!!!

• It's important as long as you have the motivation and derive pleasure from learning :) of course, not as important as looking after my son, but right next to preparing meals for my family ;) - Issabela Sep 30, 2009

Answer 9

I live in a town in New Mexico where 85% of the people are of Latino/Hispanic origin.(I know there is a politically correct issue with these terms I need to learn about).

I think it shows respect for people to have an interest in THEM as people. What is more personal than one's language of origin?I may never speak as a native speaker but to be able to hear an individual's thoughts in their language of origin will allow me to hear their thoughts from the fabric of their being.

There is another thread here asking how to learn to think in Spanish. Imagine how difficult it would be to learn to think in English (or Chinese for that matter).

So it is important to me to learn Spanish because of the community in which I live and being a member of the family of man. If I had the time I would learn many other languages.

Answer 10

I am an american living in argentn i definatly need spanish very badly.

• Hi rob, please note that it is mandatory on this forum to use correct spelling, grammar, and capitalization in your posts. - - Heidita Sep 17, 2009

Answer 11

I live in Southern California (LA area) and we have a large Hispanic population. I work with Spanish speaking families, so it is in my best interest to be able to communicate with them as clearly as possible. Besides, I was born in Brazil where neighboring countries speak Spanish.

In addition, I like a lot of Hispanic/Latino singers and bands, so this helps me understand their lyrics.

Answer 12

For me it just feels good when I can talk to people in my city in their mother tounge. They appreciate it and are more than happy to help you with it.

Answer 13

It isn't important to learn Spanish. If you live in the U.S.A., you should be aware that (American) English has been established as a world wide standard for tourism/business/diplomacy. You can travel almost anywhere and find hotel staff/guides/taxi drivers who know enough English for you to communicate your basic needs. You probably have no need to communicate with them on any level beyond the most fundamental/practical (so why bother?).

Whenever there is contact between superior and inferior civilizations, it is the inferior civilization that ends up supplying the bulk of the translators (in order to accommodate the superior civilization). Enjoy your superiority! Might makes right!

• Then go to Italy or France and "enjoy" your superiority.. Soon you'll find out that a great deal of those people don't give a **** about (American) English. - Issabela Sep 30, 2009
• omg... that is incredibly racist.... - JCameron Sep 30, 2009
• spoken like a real Bush fan. - 00769608 Oct 2, 2009

Answer 14

Learnig new language means also learning to accept or adopt pieces of its culture. I think the greatest thing, apart from treating a new language as means of communication, is the fact that we open ourselves to the unknown.

Answer 15

I don't know if Spanish is important.

• Then why are you here? - mctague Oct 2, 2009