How has learning Spanish/English benefitted your life?
Tell me how learning Spanish/English has helped you in your life. Have there been any surprising or unexpected benefits as a result of your studies? Let us all know!
My best experience was being able to make a speech in a church in Jarabacoa. I was overwhelmed when people actually understood me. My biggest surprise came when I was able to rescue a friend from a major security dilemma at an airport where there was no one around who spoke English.
I'm interested in your stories no matter how big or small! 
13 Answers
Okay, I know it won't last forever, but, other than being a hit with my wife's family (a native speaker), the best thing about learning Spanish is that my wife and I can speak freely in front of my children (from a prior marriage) without being understood!
I feel much cooler and much smarter than my English-only friends, family and co-workers.
I was in a childrens hospital when this spanish guy was waitting for the nurse to tell him about his sick daughter. The nurse did not speak spanish,and the easy dropper that I am, I was able to tell him his daughter was with high fever and they were going to keep her in hospital to run test, and get her fever down. I was soooooooo scared, but he was shaking his head yes. When the interpreter got back he told her what I said and I had spoke enough to him that he knew what I was saying. Hyped me up.
I have had at least two unexpected benefits from studying Spanish, it seems to have helped improve my English and my memory in general. I have also had a lot of fun!
Learning Spanish has benefited me in allowing me to be able to converse with the most wonderful man I've ever met. If I hadn't known the Spanish that I did, we would never have been able to get to know each other and fall in love - sigh! The other way it has benefit me is that I have met some of the most awesome, fun (and funny) people on SpanishDict!
It has effected me in many ways, now I can talk to new people.
Soy profesor en una escuela de medio y mis estudiantes hablan español. Español tiene ayudarme a tener unas buenas relaciones con ellos. Yo tuve buenas relaciones en el pasado pero aprender español ahora me haya ayudado más este año.
I gave the spanish a shot. I hope I didn't butcher too much of it. Either way, I am sure I will learn something from this!!! 
Has anyone out there benefited from learning English?
I have just re-started learning. I have used it in restaraunts before, which thoroughly impressed my family, because they didn't know I could carry on a conversation for more than two minutes. Other than that I have expectations of using it a lot when I get home. I have talked four other soldiers into learning Spanish also. The Army provides Rosetta Stone to us for free, but there is a consensus among all of us that Spanishdict is better.
It has benifitted me when i had to speak to my cuzin's grandmother who doesen't speak any english and my cuzin didnt was in another part of the house
Learning Spanish has enabled me to learn other languages, because I understand a lot of the grammatical terms that get thrown around (seriously, I would have never known what the 'subjunctive' or 'perfect' tense was!). Also, it's enabled me to enjoy Spanish music (Zoé and Aterciopelados are my favorite) without having to reach for a dictionary every second. It's just...fun.
I'm Swedish so learning English has had huge benefits for me. I always use it on the internet and such, sometimes I read books in English, etc...
Not had any benefits in particular when it comes to Spanish yet, but I enjoy knowing a third language. I ordered a book in Spanish last week about Pablo Escobar, the Colombian drug lord.
I don't know, seems like I've spoken spanish forever. I'm glad that I have friends from different parts of the world. I like talking especially to Cubans, who have a very different life than we do. I like talking to Puerto Ricans because they are so much like Americans, but still so different. I like the food...friends have taught me how to cook in that way. I like I can look at what is going on in Mexico and have a deeper understand into what fuels the chaos there. I love the music. Pues, ya. 
