Who in their right mind actually cares about learning Spanish?
Now that I've got your attention...I'm interested in hearing everyone's story. What sparked your interest in learning Spanish (or English, if that's what you're here for...)? Why do you continue studying? What do you hope to do once you become fluent? Are you learning because of friends, family, traveling, pen pals, plans to teach, job advancement? Tell us why Spanish is important in your life!
16 Answers
I learnt English because my parents were both English and I was born in England. I also married an English girl. My life would have been pretty dismal if I hadn´t learnt the language, not being able to converse with my parents, wife and children, etc. Childish reply I know, but hey, Is this really me below?
I had to learn English because I went to study and live in the U.S.A. Much harder to do if you don't know the language, really.
Spanish, now - that I learned because that's what my Momma taught me, and is what they spoke where I grew up.
Russian I learned for the heck of it. 
Studying Spanish for me right now is more hobby than anything else. I like being to able to absorb the language without the pressure I was good at it. I got a 93 on New York Stat. However, after moving to Arizona and hearing a bunch of Mexicans speaking Spanish around me, I decided to become serious about learning it because it felt awkard not being able to understand them. My goal now is travel to Spanish speaking country one day after becoming advanced.
- I get sent to Mexico several times a year for my job.
- Learning a language is exercise for the brain.
- Spanish is on its way to becoming the national language of the United States.
I know English because I live (and was born) in America and also because that was the language I was taught.
I started Spanish when I was 5- just basic stuff in kindergarten. That continued for 2 years and the Spanish teacher decided to leave. I wanted to become fluent, so, my mom got me private lessons with her. That went on for a couple of years and then I quit (I didn't want to practice). Then, I met someone who could barely speak any English and I thought it would be cool if I could talk to her, so I started Spanish again. Then she moved and I quit Spanish shortly after.... A few years later, I had the choice of taking Spanish or being put in a reading class. I chose Spanish. Now, at the school I'm going to, I'm required to take French or Spanish and of course, I chose Spanish... I enjoy being able to speak and write in Spanish and it's pretty cool when I can talk to people and watch TV in Spanish and still know what they are saying.
I am also trying to learn French. I'm not as serious about taking French as I am with Spanish- I only know my numbers from one to twenty-nine (I still mess up a lot and have to constantly think about it though). I also know a few random words like "fish", "poison" and "crap!". I can barely say "bonjour" and if I saw a word, I probably couldn't recognize it. Maybe I should drop the tri-lingual dream?
Oh, and I know a few random things in sign language too as well as my alphabet and most of my numbers.
The end.
It all started for me some fifty years ago. I was an altar boy. At that time we simply recited latin during the Mass. Most often, we had no clue what we were saying. One day the Monsignor told me that my latin pronunciation was perfect, and from then on he called me the, "Latin Scholar." Shortly thereafter, I met a cuban immigrant at my high school who spoke very little English. We became friends and shared our love of languages. I went on to a degree in Spanish Language and Culture, I used Spanish in my work, and became addicted to it.(SpanishDict.com makes the addictions worse!) I hope that was not too much information!
In the back of my mind, I had always wanted to learn a second language. I studied French for three years in school, but never had any use for it.
After two unexpected trips to Mexico in 2008, I fell in love with the language and the people. I was so frustrated that I could not communicate better or even understand signs in store windows. I started picking up a few things while I was there, but really made a commitment once I returned back to the States.
Within months of studying Spanish, I found out that I would be traveling on a missions trip to the Dominican Republic in 2009. We were all asked to prepare something to say about our lives and testimonies, which was to be interpreted by a translator. I committed to the goal of being able to read my own full page speech by myself. I studied non-stop and worked with two Dominican friends who live in the States for help with translation, along with a friend from Puerto Rico who helped me to practice my pronunciation. After being able to share a speech like this in a Dominican church and after making many new Spanish speaking friends, I was hooked for life.
Now, I continue learning and hope to be able to go on many more trips, both service oriented and for pleasure, to Spanish speaking countries. There are so many beautiful ones to choose from. Also, we have been asked to return to the Dominican Republic, so that is even more incentive. I am looking forward to sharing my improvements. 
Although I took Spanish for 2 years in high school, I didn't really become obsessed with the language until I traveled to Mexico City with a friend and stayed with a Mexican family for two weeks. When we returned home, my friend and I began taking Spanish classes at the University of Minnesota.
That trip to Mexico also sparked my interest in Pre-Columbian cultures, not only in Mexico, but in all of Latin America.
Thus began my journey along the road to learning Spanish and traveling to Latin American countries.
I became interested in "birding" (bird watching) not long after my first trip to Mexico. Now, when I travel to Latin America it is primarily for the purpose of "birding" as well as the opportunity to speak Spanish and visit Pre-Columbian archaeological sites which I have not previously visited.
Why do I keep studying?
Because I hope that someday I will become fluent in Spanish.
Why do I want to become fluent in Spanish?
Because I want to be able to converse easily, on all levels, with people I encounter when traveling in Latin America. Which I intend to do for many, many more years!
Almost every in my town there are: spanish advertisments, bumper stickers, stores, etc. and people who speak and only speak spanish, so I would lke to understand, and be able to converse.
Got me 
Well, I've just fallen in love with the melody of Spanish, with the way how the words rustle... I haven't planned it. Like Feliz77, I also enjoy playing with the language, developing the skills per se.
I first seriously began learning to speak Spanish when I was living at a secondary boarding school for boys in England A Spanish waiter from Barcelona, who was working at a hotel in Braintree, Essex at the time, was my first teacher What motivated me to start learning Spanish? Well, when I knew that I was born in a Spanish speaking country (Peru , South America) I not only thought that I should learn the language of the country of my birth, but also a GREAT desire was birthed within me to learn Spanish. Since leaving that school I took course in Spanish with other people and sometime after that I took lessons with various native speakers/teachers of the Spanish language... and recently discovered this site (march 29th this year) and am endeavouring to make good/full use of the facilities to improve my spanish.
What keeps me going? Well I love the sound of the language, and enjoy developing my linguistic skills. The native Hispanic people are generally very sincere, open and friendly people who I have found from experience are also very hospitable people.I know people from Columbia who used to come to our church. I have also enjoyed travelling to Spain and meeting and chatting with native speakers from many parts of Spain eg Granada, and also from South America.
Por primera vez, comenzé de aprender español, con seriadad, cuando viviaba en una escuela secundaria de internado para los jovenes, en Inglaterra. Una camarera de Barcelona,qué trabajaba en Braintree, Essex, era mi primer maestro ¿Qué motivos impulsaban a mi para comenzar a aprender español? Pues, cuando supé que nací en un país hispanohablante (Perú, America de Sur) creía no soló que debería aprender la idioma del país de mi nacimiento pero también un gran deseo nació en mi corazón de aprender español. Después de salir esa escuela tomé un curso de español con otras personas y un poco tiempo después tomé otra vez lecciónes privados de español con varios nativos/maestros de la lengua Español y descubrí este sitio de web (29 de marzo.este año) y estoy tratando de aprovechar/utilizar todas de facilidades aquí para mejorar mi español.
Voy a continuar de traducir esta respuesta una otra vez ..... gracias por su paciencia
My first encounter with Spanish was when I lived in Florida, and the spring-board was an elderly Cuban lady with whom I wanted to communicate. The learning was an off and on proposition when I moved from Florida, sort of a "catch as catch can" deal. When I completed my Master's degree, I decided that it was time to indulge myself in things that I liked and Spanish was at the forefront of that list. It has been great fun speaking with people, reading books, magazines, and newspapers, and now participating in Spanishdict. And I certainly agree with dogbert, that learning keeps the mind agile. and as one ages that becomes quite important.
When I was 16 years old, I went on a holiday in Spain with a friend. We had a date with two spanish girls (que eran muy linda ). They taught me my first spanish words, things like hamacas, palmeras,... (we were at the beach obviously 
). I remember vividly walking on the paseo maritimo with my phrase book in my back pocket, but actually never used it. We had a great time with these muchachas guapas and got to know even more spanish friends. While we mostly spoke english and I've learned only words like g*******as, venga, vamos, conejas calientes, j***r, c****es (I hope this isn't too rude 
- I was only 16 what did you expect ) and things like that, I was hooked.
Since that holiday I loved spanish, I teached myself some expressions and words but was never happy with my level. And then one day I stumbled on this website and just loved it! So I decided to improve my spanish significantly, began taking the video lessons, bought myself some "first readers" and I'm glad to see I'm improving. I'm now reading Harry Potter y la piedra filosofal, and I intend to read the whole series in spanish.
So I have no special reason to speak spanish besides the fact that I love it and to use it on holidays in spanish speaking countries and to, OK I'll admit, impress my friends .
I began learning Spanish in 7th grade (we could choose between Spanish and French...I "chose wisely") and continued studying it because it came easily to me. Then I added other languages as the opportunities arose.
It's a joy to travel and speak to others in their own language.
I learned Spanish because that's the only way I could communicate with others in my home country --Mexico. I learned English only because I wanted to attend a specific university in the US, even though I didn't like the language! Now I really like English, which helps me a great deal in my current career --software developer. But even with my current passion for English, I do not want to forget my native language. I make an extra effort to keep them in line, separate, and as correct as I can when I express myself in any of these two languages.
