Spanish
1. To understand better. Like it or not, you'll hear as much Spanish as English at the Dulles airport, and in many other places now. Wouldn't it be nice to understand what people are saying, and what the announcements are?
2. To be able to help others. Our bank has a branch at the grocery store, and this past week a senorita who didn't speak English was ready to leave without her money or groceries. It felt good to be able to help her out. You can help Spanish speakers in your area socially or religiously.
3. To improve your brainpower. A new language expands the range of your possible thoughts. There are concepts and expressions in each language that don't exist in others. These can give you new ways to think.
4. To change your perspective. In Spanish, you say "I have fear" (yo tengo miedo). Psychologists tell us that thoughts like "I am afraid" create too much identification with the feeling. It's healthier to think "I feel fear," or "I have fear," and in Spanish it's automatic.
5. To improve your memory. Did you know that most people experience a general improvement in memory from studying a language? Studies prove it.
6. To age more slowly. Learn Spanish to slow the aging process? It's true. It has been demonstrated that you can halt the age-related decline in mental function by learning a new language, including Alzheimer.
7. To get a better job. Knowing more than one language always looks good on a job application, and Spanish is one of the most useful one to learn.
8. So you can enjoy ALL the channels on your cable TV.
9. So you can order without help in a TRUE Mexican restaurant.
10. So you can say hello (hola) to your neighbor.
11. So you can reconnect with your Hispanic roots. It is many times difficult for those who look Hispanic and have a Latino last name to feel comfortable around other Latinos.
12. So you can sell your products or services to one or more than 35 million Spanish speakers in the United States or to more than 200 million Spanish speakers in this world.
13. So you can prepare yourself to communicate on your next trip to Latin America, South America, Spain, Miami, New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Denver or virtually anywhere else you go in the Western Hemisphere. (If you are going to Canada to live maybe French might be worth learning!)
14. And last but not least, to be able to enjoy the warmest and richest culture on earth; the Latino culture.
Learning Spanish will stretch your mind and change your life forever. We invite you to expand your world of opportunities by learning to communicate well in Spanish!
