Thread: Why learn Spanish?

Why do you think we have to learn the Spanish language if we can speak the English language which I think is the universal language. I know that communication works a lot but isn't it too hard to learn the Spanish language and I think it takes time.

Do you really expect to live in/spend large amounts of time/money in a country where you don't speak the language? A lot can be communicated with gestures and noises, but don't expect to order dinner in a restaurant without pointing or discuss the latest soccer game (without drawing pictures) with folks over fríos (cold beers) if you don't speak the language?
As with everything international, the larger the city, the larger the population, the greater the chance that someone will be bilingual, English/Spanish. But if you ever want to spend time outside of the two majors cities--and you will, if you want to go to the beach or head west to the mountains--then at least a handbook of Spanish phrases is a requirement. People are very patient if they see you making an effort to speak their language, don't be branded a 'tourist,' go as a traveler--one who makes the effort to blend in, learn and benefit from the experience.

Cheers.

I think more people in the world speak Spanish than people who speak English. Anyway, I think it is easier to live in a county if you speak the dominant language of that country. So, I recommend learning Spanish if going to Panama. Similarly, I recommend learning English if going to the United States.

Originally Posted by trixie

Why do you think we have to learn the Spanish language if we can speak the English language which I think is the universal language. I know that communication works a lot but isn't it too hard to learn the Spanish language and I think it takes time.

English is an international language, especially in airlines and business. But I wouldn't consider it universal.

Learning Spanish offers a lot benefits: being able to communicate with more people, better understanding of culture, empathy for immigrants trying to learn English, just to name a few.

Why do people so often think they can move to a country and not learn the language? At the very least, it is very rude.

well in my opinion, if you want to "blend" with panamanians... join their chat and try to look different than a tourist, spanish could be really useful. so... that's my advice: if you
're visiting Panama as a tourist you don't need to know spanish, but if you're going to work there, or trying to settle there, it could be really useful for you.

In the United States, it can be helpful to learn Spanish anyway, because it won't be too long until Spanish is the dominant language in the United States.

Originally Posted by panman

In the United States, it can be helpful to learn Spanish anyway, because it won't be too long until Spanish is the dominant language in the United States.

With only about 12% of the population speaking Spanish fluently, I don't think that Spanish is going to ever become the dominant language in the U.S.

Languages of the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Spanish in the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Cheers.

lol i haven't seen his reply either... spanish won't ever be a dominant language.. maybe in certain states it could become one of the main languages spoken in those states that are near the border with Mexico

It already it a typical second language of non-Hispanics that reside along the border in southern parts of California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, as well as in places that are agricultural or industrial, such as parts of mid and northern California and sections of Colorado; it is also widely found in south Florida, due to the large concentrations of Cuban-Americans. I'm personally a big fan of anyplace with a large Spanish-speaking population, because the restaurants tend to be fantastic!

List of U.S. communities with Hispanic majority populations - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
List of California communities with Hispanic majority populations - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cheers.

Almost half of the people in New Mexico speak Spanish and that number is increasing. I have heard people that say that latinos are going to become the majority in the United States due to immigration and the low birth rates of other races in the US.

Well, that maybe true in NM--but they have a population under 2 million ppl, so that's not a huge segment of the U.S. to consider.

According the 2000 U.S. Census, 28.76% of the population aged 5 and over speak Spanish at home, while 4.07% speak Navajo. New Mexico is commonly thought to have Spanish as an official language alongside English, due to the widespread usage of Spanish in the state. Although the original state constitution of 1912 provided for a temporarily bilingual government, New Mexico has no official language. Nevertheless, the state government publishes election ballots and a driver's manual in both languages.

New Mexico - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I'm sure that that there are

people that say that latinos are going to become the majority in the United States due to immigration and the low birth rates of other races in the US.

but I just don't see that happening any time soon. 'People' say lots of things, and many of them are not true, and many use this argument to fight for tighter immigration controls and legislation that would close the U.S. borders.

Legal immigration into the U.S. is tighter than ever--and even with 1 million a year, even if they were all from Hispanophone countries, that just could not put a dent in the ~300 million citizens who already speak English as their primary language.

Immigration - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Cheers.

Among the benefits of learning the language of the country you may travel or reside in is the personal satisfaction of accomplishment. Travelling in complete or nearly complete ignorance perpetrates the (sometimes justified) stereotype of the boorish Western tourist who feels that they have a right to speak English (or their version of it) and eveyone else must cater to them. That's no longer the real world. Learn the language! It's fun and enjoyable. And it's not impossible.

I have also heard that learning a new language will help you speak your original language. That is because it helps develop your general language skills and understanding of natural language.

Originally Posted by panamapal

I have also heard that learning a new language will help you speak your original language. That is because it helps develop your general language skills and understanding of natural language.

Totally! The verbal SAT scores for teens who have studied a foreign language for at least 3 years are higher than for teens who haven't--I wish I had a good quote for that one, but it was in a copyrighted piece that I can't quote. Its noted especially for students of Latin and French, since so much of English derives from those two, and grants familiarity with complex sentence structure and etymologies that the critical reading section scores always go up after concentrated foreign language study.

So, if you have teenagers--get them to study a foreign language!

Cheers.

well especially for those who live in NW, that are United States Residents... US's official language is english and if you want to be come US Citizen learn the language and speak the language.

The U.S. does not have 'an official language.' By long practice and general familiarity, English is the practical national language, but it is not written into the Constitution and is routinely put up for new legislation--which keeps getting shot down.

National language - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cheers.

Yes, that's true. The U.S. doesn't have a national language. It's part of their idea of freedom and their motto "e pluribus unum".

While English is a popular international language, you also have to learn to adapt to the other you'll be visiting or even living in. Just how you want people who come to the USA to learn English, you also want to follow the same procedure when you go to a foreign country. If Spanish is the dominant language, then learn it. It also helps you out when dealing with the people, they will respect you more if you attempt to speak their language, even if it's incorrect or hardly understandable.

I think every language have their importancies..
so I think anyone needs to get to learn the various language..

there is a famous saying which goes like "when in rome do the romans",so when in panama do spanish,with spanish u will be able to communicate with many people who don't speak english besides spanish sounds good,although i don't know how to speak it.languages like spanish and french were originally develped as romantic languages unlike english which was developed as a war language,so have peace and romance.

on a lighter note... singing a love song in spanish sounds super romantic... don't you think?