Learn Spanish
By deciding to learn Spanish, you’ve gone for a very popular language. In fact, it is second only to Chinese as the most spoken language in the world. ¡Increíble!
Over 400 million people have Spanish as their native language, and it is the official language of 20 countries. These are (take a deep breath): Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Spain, Uruguay, and Venezuela. Also, even though it is not an official language, Spanish is commonly spoken in the United States, Belize, Andorra and Gibraltar.
Overall, this means there are plenty of potential Spanish speakers for you to chat with, practice with and, of course, impress using your new Spanish skills!
Why learn Spanish?
In addition to all the wonderful things you can experience in Spain, one of the benefits of learning Spanish is the high number of places you can use it (the long list of countries you just read above!). When you can speak to anyone and understand all the signs, travelling becomes a lot easier, more practical and much more fun.
The increased presence of Latino culture in the United States and the promise of a warm and sunny retirement have both contributed to making Spanish one of the fastest growing languages on the planet. As a result, many people choose to learn Spanish because it is an excellent way to boost employment prospects. The increase in the Spanish-speaking population makes learning Spanish extremely beneficial, especially in the world of globalisation we live in. You can be confident that the demand for Spanish translators and interpreters will not disappear anytime soon. ¡Para nada!
Others, of course, simply choose to learn Spanish to challenge themselves or as a hobby. Given the benefits we just talked about, it is a pretty useful hobby to take up.
Ways to learn Spanish
Once you start learning Spanish, you’ll surprise yourself with how much you can absorb in a short space of time - even as a total beginner. Days, definitely, but even after a few hours of study. But how to learn Spanish? Well, luckily, you have options. Lots of options.
Online courses, apps, language school classes, books, private tutors - you’re spoilt for choice! Online courses and/or apps are the most convenient choice. You choose your own time and place to study. And you set the pace. It’s a level of convenience which is perfect if you need to fit your learning around busy work or family life.
Language school classes have the benefit of a teacher in the room, great if having someone to provide personal instruction is very important to you. They are also more affordable than a private tutor and their regular schedules can help keep your momentum going. Although places can be snapped up quickly plus, with bigger class sizes, the teacher has to split their time equally so every student gets the attention they need.
In addition to your main learning channel, there are also many other fun (and often free) resources online to help you conquer the language. YouTube videos, podcasts, blogs, Spanish films/series (with or without subtitles), social media accounts and more. Even articles to help you learn with Spanish swearing, if that’s what you’re after.
Truth is, there is never usually a single ‘best way’ to learn Spanish (or any other language). The best approach is often a combination of sources, and we suggest you explore the options and find what combination works best for you.
Learn Spanish with Babbel
When you learn Spanish with Babbel, you’ll learn practical, real-life conversation. Stuff you can use when and as you need it. From ordering tapas to shopping for groceries, we quickly get you confidently talking with confidence.
Boredom is never a risk because you choose the lesson topics that matter to you. Sightseeing in Mexico? How about ordering in a bar? Whatever you go for, you learn what you find interesting and what’s relevant to you. And all course content is crafted and tailored for English speakers by our in-house team of expert linguists. Made by humans for humans!
Because Babbel lessons are only 15 minutes long on average, they are easy to squeeze in every day. Life moves quickly, we know, but 15 minutes is still short enough for most commutes or lunch breaks. Although we do hope your lunch break is more than 15 minutes long! Even just one lesson a day will make a difference.
Give Babbel a go and start your Spanish language adventure today. Your first lesson is free!
