Did you know the most spoken language in the world is Mandarin
Chinese? Then, English and, Spanish follows this. If you know
English and Spanish, you will be able to speak to more than
half the world population!
Let me share some statistics about Spanish:
• Spanish is the most popular language in the United
States.
• It is the world’s Number 2 language when only
native speakers are counted.
• It’s the official language in 21 countries.
• According to the Kiplinger Washington Editors, the
Hispanic share of the workforce in the United States will
increase 25% by 2010.
• Spanish is used worldwide on the Internet.
The above statistics alone make Spanish –especially
for Americans- the best choice for those wanting to broaden
their career opportunities.
Here are more reasons to learn Spanish:
• It is easy – Because of its Latin roots, Spanish
is one of the easiest languages to learn. Much of its vocabulary
is similar to English. Written Spanish is almost completely
phonetic: you pronounce it the way you read it.
• Spanish offers a wealth of culture – Its contributions
to architecture, the arts and world literature are tantamount.
Once you learn it, you will be able to explore the wonderful
writings of Vargas Llosa, Cervantes, Ruben Dario or Garcia
Marquez in their own language. Wouldn’t Goya, Picasso,
Dali and Velazquez be more interesting if you were familiar
with their culture?
• It is fun—Whether you enjoy conversing, reading,
or traveling, you will enjoy all of these when you learn Spanish.
Learning a language can be work, but the efforts pay off when
you use your skills. I always tell my students, “hola”
is hello, “adios” is good-bye, Spanish is Fun,
so give it a try!
• Employers seek Spanish speaking applicants in nearly
every profession including medical, public service, legal,
education and sales. Being a bilingual Notary Public and Loan
Signing Agent has expanded my own career opportunities.Regarding
children: They are the most receptive language learners.
Research shows that language acquisition skills are sharpest
at an early age. By starting young, your child will gain:
• Authentic pronunciation. • More confidence.
• Exposure to a new culture.
As a teacher of Spanish at a Montessori school, I had students
as young as 4 years old. Most students were eager to say everything
in Spanish. It was amazing to see how quickly they picked it
up! Children are creatures of the present. They like to do things
instantly; this includes speaking Spanish. I have found the
same to be true for adults.
Need to be more convinced? How about this: • Nearly
one out of three Hispanics nationwide live in California.
• By 2050, the Hispanic population is expected to triple
and make up more than 24% of the national total population.
• In California’s largest cities, Hispanics account
for sizable portions of the population. In Los Angeles, about
1.7 million, or 47% are Hispanics.
The growth of the Hispanic population has been spectacular.
“We used to think of minorities as biracial, “ Harry
P. Pachon USC Professor says, “Now we think of them as
multiracial. It’s not hard to understand why a growing
number of employers throughout the nation seek b-lingual candidates
as potential assets.”
So, are you ready to get started?
When you begin your Spanish course at Gina’s Spanish Studio®,
you will learn the Spanish culture. Speaking Spanish can be
an asset for your career, your business or your personal growth.
Spanish, anyone?
Gina L. Colón, a native Spanish
speaker, is the Director of Gina’s Spanish Studio®.
She teaches private and semi-private lessons to school children
and business people. Additional services include translations
of business documents and tutoring to ESL students (English
as a Second Language). Starting in January 2007, Gina will be
conducting multiple Spanish classes at the Calabasas Tennis
and Swim Center for children and adults. Gina’s hobbies
include reading, traveling and biking. Please call (818)515-8426
or visit her website at: www.ginaspanishstudio.com
Copyright 2004, Calabasas Chamber of Commerce.Site
design by RC DIGITAL
DESIGN. Questions? Contact the Webmaster.
