Learning the Spanish language, especially later in life, can be quite an undertaking. It definitely can be accomplished though, and the rewards are numerous. Modern trends now show that Americans are taking Spanish language classes and arrempting to learn Spanish in record numbers, for a variety of reasons. With over 30 million Spanish speaking people in the United States alone, having the ability to communicate in both languages (English and Spanish) can offer more employment opportunities, volunteer work as translators, or even work as an English tutor to the Spanish community.

If the learning process begins at an early age, it is generally a smooth and less stressful transition. Bilingual children are able to fully participate in two cultures and communicate with a wide variety of individuals. Specialists have conducted studies that prove the advantages in thinking skills among bilingual children as well. In the years ahead, it is very likely that Spanish classes will become common in the public and private school systems. The percentage of Spanish speaking individuals is steadily growing every year, and the need for fluency in the language is more important than ever. Some Spanish is taught in public and private schools now, but rarely enough for the student to actually become fluent enough for the language to become useful to them.

Fortunately, with today’s Internet technology, there is a wide variety of tutorials, resources, audio and visual classes, games, and newspapers available to the Spanish student. Everything from the beginner to advanced classes can be found for free online. The clear advantage of online study is that the student can learn at his or her own pace, repeating and reviewing the material until it has been mastered. Live classes in a structured classroom atmosphere are recommended, but the disadvantage is the fear of falling behind. Since learning a language often uses the concept of building upon what has already been taught, a student who falls behind can become frustrated and lost before long. A combination of live classes and online tutorials is another excellent way to aid in the learning experience. The links below will provide a wide range of resources and aids for those learning the Spanish language.

Online Resources for Learning Spanish:

• Bilingual Fun Interactive Learning Resources
• No Comprendo Spanish for beginners
• Free Spanish Lessons Excellent free online Spanish course for children and parents
• Learn Spanish Online for Free Excellent resource with beginner, intermediate, and advanced sections
• Daily Radio Podcasts Teaching Spanish
• Spanish to English Dictionary
• Learn Spanish Free Excellent resource from Colby Liberal Arts College
• Bowdoin College: Free Spanish Course

Hispanic Culture:

• Smithsonian Institute Bilingual Presentation
• Understanding Hispanic Culture
• Hispanic Culture Information
• Scholastic Website
• Hispanic Culture and Health

Hispanic Newspapers and Magazines:

• Hispanic Business News--Written in English, this online newspaper includes top Hispanic business stories
• Hispanic Newspaper Based out of NY--Can be accessed in Spanish or English
• Hispanic Newspaper Based out of Miami Written in Spanish
• Hispanic Newspaper Based out of Texas
• The Wall Street Journal in Spanish
• San Diego Hispanic Newspaper
• Monthly Entertainment Magazine in Spanish
• Hispanic Magazine

Hispanic Literature:

• Bilingual Books
• The Hispanic Reading Room
• Hispanic Literature and the Arts
• Nobel Prize Laureates in Hispanic Literature

The Spanish language is a language worth the study of any student. In 1999, 358 million people who claim to speak Spanish as a native language and 417 million claim to speak the language worldwide. Is it ever a wonder why so many people want to learn how to speak this language. In order to understand why there is a pull to learn the Spanish language let’s look at some of the features and history of the language.

The Spanish language came about from common Latin that was brought to Iberian Peninsula by the Roman Empire in the 3rd century. It was in the 15th century that revisions were made to the language and by 1492 the first grammar book for Spanish was written. The work was presented to the Queen and told that, “language is the instrument of empire.” In the 16th century the language came to the Americas due to Spanish colonization. In the 20th century Spanish came to areas of the United States that were not part of the earlier Spanish colonization.

The Spanish language is found all over the world and is recognized as a one of the languages on the United Nations, the European Union, and many other groups of countries. In the 21st century the number of Spanish speakers has climbed to 470 to 500 million people. Spanish has become the 3rd most spoken language in the World. Everywhere a person looks Spanish is showing up. From food products to manuals, Spanish is side by side English and other languages. Major companies have realized that there is a huge market among the Spanish speaking culture.

Is it ever a wonder that so many people want to learn the Spanish language. Being bilingual has its advantages in the work place. People who know both languages are able to get jobs that require them to know both languages, versus a person who only knows one. People who know Spanish can travel to Spanish speaking countries and be involved more easily than someone who does not know the language. If you find yourself with the opportunity to learn Spanish take advantage of it, you will not regret learning the Spanish language.