People throughout the world are learning Spanish in record numbers! It’s estimated that Spanish is spoken by at least 350 million people around the world and is currently the 4th most commonly spoken language in the world (after English, Chinese and Hindustani). It is the official language on four continents; including Costa Rica.
If you are traveling to or living in Costa Rica now is a good time to learn Spanish. In addition to being able to hear, see and practice your new language skills, here are a few other reasons to learn Spanish:
Understanding and independence:
If you learn Spanish you’ll be able to know what is going around you and be able to communicate with others. Although highly educated Costa Ricans speak English, the majority of Costa Ricans who work in the stores, restaurants, government offices, etc., do not. If you speak Spanish you’ll know what you’re buying in the grocery store, ordering in a restaurant, can negotiate a banking problem and can read official documents to make sure that they say what you thought they said. Your gardener or maid will understand what you are asking. You won’t have to rely on someone else to translate and understand. You can listen to the local news and know which traffic route you should take that day and which to avoid. You’ll also get a better understanding of the culture and enrich your experience here.
Open doors and expand your horizons:
If you only speak English, you’ll be forced to confine yourself to those areas where nearly everyone speaks English. If you want to explore Costa Rica and get to know the local people, you need to know Spanish. Costa Ricans are a very generous people and they will welcome you with open arms if you speak Spanish which will allow you to see and do things that many other tourists and expatriates do not. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to get to know your Costa Rican neighbors and make friends? If you are considering opening a business it will be essential to communicate with your Spanish speaking employees and co-workers; yet alone offer your services to such a broad market.
Reduce chances of dementia:
Research indicates that knowing and using two languages reduces your chances of developing dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. Other studies show that studying languages can improve your memory and slow age-related decline in mental acuity. And studying another language makes you smarter! Your critical thinking skills will be improved as you learn to view things through a different lens. Learning a second language stimulates creativity!
Better understanding of English:
A lot of the vocabulary of English has Latin origins. Since Spanish is also a Latin language, you will find as you study Spanish that you have a better understanding of your native vocabulary. It's not unusual, for example, to gain an understanding of English verbs' tenses and moods by learning how those verbs are used in Spanish.
It's easy:
Spanish is one of the easiest foreign languages to learn. Much of its vocabulary is similar to English's, and written Spanish is almost completely phonetic: Look at almost any Spanish word and you can tell how it is pronounced. And while mastering the grammar of Spanish can be a challenge, basic grammar is straightforward enough that you can have meaningful communication after only a few lessons.
It's fun:
Whether you enjoy talking, reading, or mastering challenges, you'll find all of them in learning Spanish. For many people, there's something intrinsically enjoyable about successfully speaking in another tongue. Although learning a language can be work, the efforts pay off quickly when you finally get to use your skills.
For many people, Spanish offers the most rewards with the least effort of any foreign language. It's never too late to begin learning.
