Most people are aware of the benefits of being bilingual, but it can seem like a daunting task, particularly as an adult. Did you know the benefits extend way beyond a higher paycheck and more job prospects? Without question, knowing any language other than your native one will likely be beneficial. As an American, however, there are real positives to mastering the fastest growing language in the country, Spanish. Read on and see how when you learn Spanish, you can improve your life on multiple levels.

Increase your job prospects

While this isn’t the only reason to learn Spanish, it’s one that has to be mentioned. With almost 53 million Spanish speaking people in the United States, there’s a need for English-Spanish bilingual job candidates across almost every industry. Think about it: whether you’re a doctor, waitress, electrician or teacher, there are Spanish speaking citizens within the United States who need your services. If you’re a business owner, learning Spanish should definitely be on your To-Do list! Just imagine how you can build your client base if you were able to connect with the smallest fraction of our countries Spanish speaking citizens.

Travel

Spanish is the native language in 21 countries and territories across the world, with populations totaling around 442 million. When traveling, it’ll make your experience so much more enjoyable if you’re able to ask for directions, read the menus or even watch the local news. On the off chance you became sick or injured while traveling, the ability to speak Spanish could potentially save your life! Have you ever noticed how many people throughout the world speak English, but how few Americans speak other languages? Americans have sadly earned the reputation of being unwilling to adapt to other cultures. A large part of this is due to not learning even the most basic phrases when traveling. If you learn Spanish before you set sail, you’ll show the world that there are many of us who do care to make the effort when visiting Spanish speaking countries.

Make New Friends

As of 2015, the United States has the second largest Spanish-speaking population in the world, surpassed only by Mexico. Wouldn’t it be nice to make new friends within your own country you may not have been able to spend time with otherwise? As someone who lives in South Florida, where there is an extremely high Hispanic population, I can personally say that the language barrier has prevented me from meeting and connecting with new people on multiple occasions. By putting in the effort to learn Spanish, I’ll feel more confident approaching people in social situations.

Prepare Yourself for the Future

According to Humberto Lopez Morales, Cuban writer and academic, in 2050, America will have the largest Spanish speaking population in the world, exceeding Mexico! There are already many areas in the country that, due to their growing Hispanic population, have signs in both Spanish and English. Get ahead of the game and learn Spanish now.

Boost Your Brain Power

Countless studies have shown that there are serious cognitive benefits to being bilingual. Multilingual people tend to score better on standardized tests, have better developed vocabularies, and are extra perceptive to their surroundings. Ready for the best part? People who learn a second language are better equipped to combat the typical cognitive decline that goes hand in hand with aging. This is true even if you learn a second language as an adult! It’s been shown that our level of intelligence and education matter less than being bilingual. Did you know that people who speak more than one language come down with dementia and Alzheimer’s up to four and a half years later than those who speak just one language?Learning a new language isn’t easy; if it were, I’d like to think most of us would already be speaking multiple languages! While it takes persistence and hard work, the social, practical and economical benefits of learning Spanish can truly pay off- especially as an American. But, don’t forget; learning Spanish in itself is supposed to be fun! The language is beautiful, easy to learn, and can be useful in countless ways. ¿Qué estás esperando?