• Learning Spanish can open up a whole new world.Spanish Alleyway image by Mart61 from Fotolia.com
  
  It is a reality of the 21st Century that Americans must know other languages if they wish to live and work in a global society. Even if we're not interacting with others around the world, we are doing business locally with people whose native language is not English. Because Spanish is spoken by more than 300 million people around the world, it is an excellent choice of language to learn.
  
  

Based On Latin

• Several European languages, including Spanish, are based on Latin. Learning Spanish will give you a beginner's template to a number of other "Romance" languages. Many medical and scientific terms are based on Latin roots. An understanding of Spanish may also help you understand the meaning of these terms.
  
  

Health Benefit

• Research shows that learning and using two languages can reduce your chances of developing dementia. According to StudySpanish.com, being bilingual enhances mental abilities, can improve memory and can slow age-related mental decline.
  
  

Resume Enhancement

• Hispanic consumers are the fastest-growing market in the United States. Spanish can be especially helpful in fields like healthcare, education and customer service. You will be more marketable and have more job options with a second language on your résumé.
  
  

Convenient Classes

• Because Spanish is spoken by more than 300 million people, it shouldn't be a problem to find a class or tutorial near you. High schools, colleges, community centers, libraries, and many private organizations offer Spanish classes. In addition, there are books, videos and websites designed to help you learn Spanish.
  
  

Keep Pace With Culture

• The influence of Spanish culture is growing in the United States. Everything, from music to television and film, is peppered with Spanish. Learning Spanish can help you keep pace with what's going on in society.
  
  

Expand Your Universe

• Austrian philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein once said, "the limits of my language are the limits of my universe." Understanding and speaking Spanish will give you the opportunity to expand your universe by communicating with an entirely new portion of your community.
  
  

Easy To Learn

• Spanish lacks the complex pronunciations found in a language such as French, has a natural rhythm that makes it flow easily, and is considered by many people to be the easiest of the Romance languages to learn. If you're intimidated by learning a new language, Spanish may be a good choice for you.