Mar 07 2009

Spanish In Today’s Job Market

Posted by George Dodge in Learn Spanish

by George Dodge

Knowing How To Speak Spanish Can Be A Plus In Today's Job Market

Learning to speak Spanish can also have very positive impact on your career and success in business. Bilingual English and Spanish speakers are finding that the demand for their skills is increasing in today's business world. The ability to communicate more effectively with co-workers, clients, customers and employees will be enhanced by many of those who have a knowledge of the Spanish language.

Since the ability to speak Spanish enables more effective communication between employees, co-workers, clients and customers, speaking Spanish is becoming more important in business and career development. Bilingual speakers of English and Spanish are finding an increasing demand for their skills.

According to recent marketing studies, the Hispanic population is the fastest growing segment of the market in North America, and many companies find themselves scrambling to catch up with the new changing market place. This increases the demand for bilingual English/Spanish speakers enhancing the value of learning to speak Spanish.

This means learning Spanish can be quite a career boosting endeavor. It can mean advancement in your chosen career, or it can open doors to other careers that otherwise might not have been available to you. More frequently, listing that you are bilingual on your resume can help you to get noticed and increase the likelihood of getting an interview. In the US, speaking Spanish will be especially helpful to you if you work in the areas of health-care, education or building and construction.

Current estimates are that over 40 percent of the US population increase today is in the Hispanic portion of the population resulting in over thirty-five million Spanish speaking US citizens. The benefits of learning to speak Spanish will continue to increase over time as this segment of the population continues to increase. The people who take the time and make the effort to become bilingual in Spanish will have a clear advantage over English only speakers in the near future with the increase in globalization and free-trade between the US and other countries in Central and South America.

The Spanish language is not only growing in popularity in the US, but also in Europe where it is the second most studied second language (English being the first). Worldwide, over 400 million people speak Spanish as their native tongue, making it the third most widely spoken native language after Mandarin and Hindi. Considering the growth rate of the Hispanic population worldwide, choosing to learn Spanish as a second language is a wise choice.

With the growth of the Hispanic population in the US, your daily interactions with native Spanish speakers, will continue to increase. For example, you might have Hispanic employers or employees that you have to interface with daily. If you wish to be able to clearly communicate with the world around you today, knowing how to speak Spanish certainly has its benefits.

For example, as my son did, you or a close family member may marry into a Spanish speaking family, or you might have Spanish speaking families in your neighborhood as my wife and I do. Also, if you don't already, you might also find yourself with Spanish speaking employees or employers. Your interactions with the Spanish speaking community are increasing daily, whether you realize it or not. Just look at the signs sprouting up everywhere these days.

Learning Spanish is also a wonderful way to help you to have a deeper appreciate for the culture of the Hispanic people and the great impact that it has made in many countries. Many of the great poets, writers, painters, musicians and architects have made significant contributions to the culture of the world. And, the flavorful and exotic foods that emanate from the Hispanic culture add even more reasons to celebrate the Spanish language and its unique heritage.

About the Author:

George Dodge has studied linguistics and foreign languages for over 40 years. At present his top two favorite Spanish language learning programs are Rocket Spanish and Learning Spanish Like Crazy.

Speak Spanish on the Job (How to Instantly) Speak Spanish on the Job (How to Instantly)
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Improve communication on your jobsite with this great new phrasebook. It's filled with Spanish translations and pronunciations for common jobsite phrases in the most heavily populated Hispanic construction fields: concrete, framing, drywall, and roofing.

Jan 25 2009

Learn Spanish Faster – 7 Steps to Success

Posted by Neal Walters in Learn Spanish

by Neal Walters

1) There are many websites that offer free online lessons for beginners. Look for one that has a lot of audio, such as our site: LearningSpanishCentre.com. Use the forums to ask questions, and make friends with other students at your level.

2) Listen to Spanish MP3s or Audio-CD courses in your car. Do you spend 30 minutes commuting to work twice a day? That's over 5 hours a week that you spend in your car! So start learning Spanish in the car, instead of listening to the radio.

3) Carry flashcards with you. Make your own flashcards on 3x5 notecards using words from the course from which you are currently studying. Be sure and carry them with you; next time you are standing in line or waiting for whatever, pull out the flashcards, and do a quick review.

4) It really helps to have a good book (with a Spanish/English dictionary in the back). Not everyone learns best with audios; many students need to see and read the words for them to sink into their brains. Books will fill in gaps, such as grammar, and provide a quick reference when you need to lookup a word or phrase.

5) Use language software on your computer. Most people enjoy the multimedia aspect and the immediate feedback. The computer is typically a patient trainer; it will allow you to click the same word dozens of times without tiring.

6) Check your local high-schools and colleges for "fun" education classes. Spanish is often on their list of community courses for $25 or less. You will have the benefit of feedback from a teacher, and the opportunity to practice with other students at your level.

7) If you get a chance, visit a Spanish-speaking country, especially if you can stay in the home of a family. You will learn so much more than the typical tourist/hotel experience. The site-seeing, museums, culture and foods will all help you learn your new language.

About the Author:

Check out our free tutorials at Learning Spanish Centre.

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