Spanish is spoken on no less than 6 continents and by around 600 million people. It is the second most spoken mother tongue after Mandarin and the second most spoken world language after English.
Spanish is the official language in a total of 21 countries (including Puerto Rico) in the world, as well as recognized minority language in Morocco and the Philippines. An incredibly large, and therefore just as incredibly interesting, market for the global economy.
In addition, the Spanish-speaking population and thus Spanish as a language in the USA are becoming increasingly important (after all one of the leading world powers). There are quite a few forecasts that predict a Spanish-speaking US president in the not too distant future.
Open up to a new culture
In this way, Spanish not only opens up a completely new world and culture, but also a multitude of new opportunities to live and work. Wouldn’t that be something:
- enjoy the well-deserved pension in sunny Andalusia,
- spend a year abroad and learn Spanish Argentina, while living in a vibrant metropolis like Buenos Aires,
- or have a great job in one of Colombia’s tropical paradises.
All of this is much easier, or even possible at all, with in-depth knowledge of Spanish. English still plays a subordinate role in the Spanish-speaking world. A fact that will not change in the long run.
Joy of life, fiery dances and fiestas until late at night determine the life of the Latinos. Ok, not always – but definitely much more often than in the often gray everyday life at home. And generally lives in Spain, or also South America, are much more relaxed and with more sense for the “pleasant things in life”.
These are three perfect spots in the world for learning Spanish that will suit all tastes –and budgets.
1- Visit Buenos Aires, Argentina
Like previously suggested, la city porteña is one of the charming destinations for learning this language. Thanks to plenty of well known institutes with full professional teachers (many of them students or graduated from Universidad de Buenos Aires, one of the greatest universities in Latin America), the immersive process can be absolutely pleasant.
Patchwork of cultures, city of immigrants from Spain, Italy and Eastern Europe, the Argentine capital fascinates with its energy. In the huge trendy district of Palermo, restaurants and bars come alive from 10pm until early morning.
The city cultivates an art of living which has survived the dark hours of the military dictatorship, from 1973 to 1983, and inflation – still – galloping. Museums, shows, exhibition… There is always something to do in Buenos Aires!
A mixture of European architecture and a Latin American atmosphere, the Argentinian capital, elegant and cheerful, is bubbling with energy. Ready to roam its liveliest neighborhoods?
2- Get your first steps in Valencia, Spain
Third city in Spain, Valencia is much less touristy than Barcelona or Madrid. Yet it’s an amazing place to stay and learn the local language: Spanish.
The town is on a human scale, everything can be done on foot. From the city center you can just as well go to the beach, as you can go to the city of sciences, to the football stadium, or even to the Bioparc… Tourist attractions abound. The free time of the linguistic stay will quickly be amortized.
The Spanish in Valencia are warm and very welcoming. This state of mind is surely due to the more than 320 days of sunshine the city receives a year. Even in winter, temperatures do not drop below 5 ° C. An ideal thermometer for the most chilly.
3- Experience Spanish in Mexico
While many students today learn Spanish for the purpose of traveling or working in Mexico, it is important to know that the Spanish spoken in Mexico differs from that used in Spain in many ways. Even if it is entirely possible to be understood by speaking “European” Spanish, being aware of a few key differences can make your life a lot easier.
When learning Mexican Spanish, the most important thing is to master the few grammatical differences between European and Mexican Spanish, which also apply to other dialects spoken in other parts of Central America and South America.
The most obvious difference between these two languages concerns the pronouns of the second person. In European Spanish, it is common to use the informal pronoun “vosotros” (you) to address a group of people, and to use the pronoun “ustedes” in more formal situations. In Mexican Spanish, however, ‘vosotros’ is never used: it is the formal pronoun ‘ustedes’ which replaces it without exception, whether the situation is formal or informal.
On the other hand, unlike other regions of Central or South America, Mexican Spanish does not use the second person pronoun of the singular ‘vos’ (you), but will always use ‘tú’ .
