If you are wondering why people are rushing to learn Spanish these days, it might be hard to pinpoint one particular reason. If you are an American, your reason for learning Spanish may be far different than a European who has decided it’s time to learn the language.

So, why is learning Spanish important to so many people? Let us give you some facts first:

* Spanish has become the second language of the United States

* The Spanish language is gaining importance as a second or third language in many European countries

* There are over 400 million Spanish speakers around the globe, only exceeded by those groups speaking English, Chinese, and Hindustani.

* Spanish is the fourth most popular language in the world and the native, or official, language on four different continents.

So, enough for the geography lesson. So why should you make the time and investment to learn Spanish? Let me tell you some of the more popular reasons why people like you and me want to learn Spanish:

It’s Very Easy to Learn

The Spanish language is truly one of the easiest foreign languages to learn. Much of the Spanish vocabulary is similar to English. Better yet, written Spanish is almost completely phonetic. Even a complete beginner can look at almost any Spanish word and tell how it should be pronounced. Of course, there are a few differences in the grammar and verb structure, but the basic grammar is relatively straightforward enough to allow you to carry on a meaningful conversation after just a few lessons.

Learning Spanish is Fun

If you like to take on a basic challenge, then learning to talk, read, and speak Spanish is your cup of tea. As far as difficulty, learning the Spanish language is quite basic and you can really have some fun in the process. The enjoyment involved in mastering a second language and being able to speak with native speakers can be extremely rewarding. The thrill of having a second language also opens up a whole new world, and different cultures, to you.

Enhance Your Travel and Vacation Experiences

Knowing how to speak Spanish expands your options when you scour the globe for a new vacation experience. Countries that you have avoided in the past due to the language barrier now become prime targets for your new travels. There is nothing worse than traveling to a new country when you cannot communicate with the local population. Imagine being able to converse with people in most Central and South American countries (and many European countries) in their native language. Whether you just learn a few common Spanish phrases or learn Spanish vocabulary and pronunciation like a native speaker, you will find that it can really open new doors to you while increasing your fun and excitement in a new land.

Improve Your Job Skills

It’s amazing how many new jobs are now requiring candidates to possess multilingual skills in order to meet the qualifications of the position. For instance, certain regions in the United States have a significant Hispanic population and influence. Employment candidates with Spanish as a second language are highly sought after in these areas and are paying a premium to attract them. Being able to speak Spanish is also a big resume booster and can lead to a better paying job, regardless of your area of employment.

Hopefully we have provided a reasonable answer as to the question posed earlier; “why is learning Spanish important for so many people?” We have touched on the more common reasons given by many Spanish students for wanting to learn this wonderful language, but not a comprehensive list for sure. Of course, each person has their own motivation for taking Spanish lessons. But regardless of your motivation for wanting to speak Spanish, the experience can be fun and rewarding and leave you with a new skill that you can use for a lifetime.Bill Wilson is a professional researcher and freelance writer for many popular online publications. To learn more about the best programs to learn Spanish fast, visit the Spanish Professor website.



Learning Spanish takes time…but there are ways to speed up the process. Just like everything in life, learning can be done slowly or it can be done at a faster pace. There are ways to learn Spanish that will increase your comprehension and shorten the learning curve.

1. Audio books/magazines.
Audio books have always been popular, but now you can use them to learn Spanish. There are some audio books (and magazines) that come in Spanish with word-for-word transcripts of the dialogue in English. The audio books coupled with the transcripts can be a powerful learning tool.

2. Bilingual Signs
Do you live in an area where English and Spanish are used regularly? If you do, you’ll probably notice bilingual signs. These signs can get you acquainted with key Spanish phrases pretty quickly. Don’t underestimate this method; it’s simple, but effective.

3. Cartoon Books
If you can get your hands on Spanish cartoon books, you’ll get a graphic representation of Spanish language. They’re very much like picture books. Although not designed as a teaching aid, they can function that way. Children learn this way and so can adults.

4. College course
Nothing beats sitting in a classroom learning Spanish. Of course, this can be very boring, but it’s a time-tested and proven way to learn Spanish. The only drawbacks are the expense (some college Spanish courses can be quite expensive) and depending on your learning ability…it may not be very fast.

5. Complete Immersion
Immerse yourself in the Spanish culture and language. Live in a Spanish-speaking environment and speak the language 24/7. This is a very quick way to pick up the language if you have the aptitude. But sometimes it can be a case of sink or swim. Be sure you DO have the aptitude before you try this.

6. English Subtitles
Get a Spanish movie with English subtitles, put it on, watch and learn. You can watch the movie and learn Spanish at the same time. Oh, it won’t make you an expert, but you can learn some great phrases this way. Especially if you’re quick with the rewind button.

7. Practice every day.
Yes, practice does make perfect. And guess what? The more you practice your Spanish lessons (however you’re taking them) the faster you’ll learn Spanish. It’s just a fact of life, folks. So…practice every day.

8. Listen.
What? I said listen. Whether you’re listening to audio files or actual people speaking, listen to the words being formed. This tip is so simple it’s often overlooked. Listen very carefully and repeat the words over and over again until you can pronounce them with ease. The more you listen, the faster you’ll learn.

9. Write.
Okay, this won’t help you to speak Spanish, but you should be able to communicate in writing, too. So get out your pen, pencil or word processor and start writing. You will really have to think to do this so it’ll help you learn Spanish at the same time. It sure will exercise your “brain muscles.”

10. Courses
A great way to pick up Spanish in a hurry. You can buy courses off the Web that offer everything you need to learn a whole lot of Spanish in a short time. These courses usually come with books, audio files, transcripts, software, interactive games and sometimes videos. These courses won’t help you master the language in 30 days, but you’ll pick up enough to impress your friends and ask directions to the bathroom.

The tips outlined above will help you learn Spanish faster, but you must be committed. If you really want to learn Spanish in a hurry you will…if you’re really committed. And if you are, nothing will stop you.

64% of people make the same mistake when they decide to learn a new language. To find out what this mistake is and how you can avoid it, follow this link,
http://www.squidoo.com/best-way-to-learn-spanish-for-the-newbie/Julian Wayne is an amphibologist and lexicographer.



Can you really learn Spanish fast? Yes – at least to a certain extent. You can pick up key phrases and sentences pretty quickly. It will take you longer to achieve a complete command of Spanish (unless you’re linguistically gifted) but a very basic knowledge can be acquired swiftly. All the ways listed below will teach you how to become acquainted with written or oral Spanish, or both, in a short time period. Now, let’s take a look at them…

1. Online Forums
Have you ever participated in a forum before? If you haven’t and you want to learn Spanish, now is the time to join one. There are plenty of forums on the Web dedicated to helping people learn Spanish. Once you find a forum you like, you usually have to register before you can interact with the other members. All you need is a name and a functional email address. Then you can browse the comments from the other participants and add your own. You’ll find that this interactive environment will help you pick up key Spanish phrases pretty quickly. Remember, forums will help you learn written Spanish, but since you can’t actually hear the words being pronounced they won’t do a lot for your oral grasp of the language.

2. Online Videos
Google Video, YouTube, Yahoo Video…there’s more to them than entertainment value. The video sites are online knowledge banks and they can aid you in your quest to learn Spanish quickly. These sites contain many videos that are mini Spanish courses. You can actually see and hear people speaking Spanish. And some of the videos offer more extensive training, usually for a fee, of course. You’ll quickly learn to pronounce key Spanish phrases this way.

3. Online Translation
There are services on the Web (like Google’s) where you can translate English into Spanish. Sentences, paragraphs and even entire web pages can be translated using these services. And for free. This is a golden opportunity for the Spanish student to learn by translating English text into Spanish. Of course, this only applies to written Spanish, and bear in mind the translation is not high quality.

4. Have People Teach You
Do you have Spanish speaking friends? Do they have the time and inclination to teach you Spanish? Learning from another person, one on one, is a great way to learn any language. Unfortunately, you may begin to feel like a freeloader if you don’t pay them.

5. Online Newsletters
Sure…all e-newsletters contain sales pitches, but the good ones are more content than advertisement. And you can learn a surprising amount of written Spanish from them. They are definitely a source to be considered.

6. Websites
Websites often provide free lessons in Spanish, both oral and written. They frequently have entire courses available on the site covering various topics like the weather, accommodations or medicine. Of course, you’ll probably have to pay to get in-depth education.

7. Ebooks
Download them and read them. Here are little Spanish courses in digital format that will help you pick up written Spanish pretty quickly. They vary in length and intensity. Some concentrate on the most common phrases while others cover the entire Spanish language. Some of them are free and some you have to pay for. Some even come with audio files so you can hear the words and phrases being spoken.

8. Audio Downloads
A great way to pick up oral Spanish. These downloads can have you speaking the most common phrases very quickly. The big benefit is that you can hear the words being spoken. But keep in mind most audio downloads are not free.

9. Blogs
Not quite as interactive as forums, but still quite handy to pick up written Spanish for free. And as long as the blogger is adding fresh content, you will have the opportunity to learn regularly – at your own pace.

10. Courses
The best has been saved for last. Courses available from the Internet cover both written and oral Spanish. They usually include ebooks, audio files and interactive games all in one package to help you learn Spanish quickly. You may not completely master the language using an online course, but you sure will pick up many useful phrases that you can use the next time you want to converse in Spanish.

Yes – you most certainly can learn some Spanish quickly. Perhaps not enough for you to speak Spanish like a native, but enough for you to ask one of the most important questions of all: “where’s the bathroom?”

64% of people make the same mistake when they decide to learn a new language. To find out what this mistake is and how you can avoid it, follow this link,
http://www.squidoo.com/best-way-to-learn-spanish-for-the-newbie/Julian Wayne is an amphibologist and lexicographer.