Have you ever thought about learning Spanish for work? This could be the optimal time. This past year has been full of change, to say the least. And, chances are, it’s also brought change to your career. Maybe you’re stir-crazy from working at home and all those Zoom meetings and dreaming about working abroad.
Perhaps you were in an industry that was hit hard by the pandemic and you’re looking for something new. You’re not the only one – this is the “Great Resignation,” after all! Or maybe you’re just feeling optimistic and energetic as Covid anxiety begins to wane and you want to start focusing on your career growth again.
With all of the things that you could do to pursue a new job, a raise, a promotion or just more satisfaction at work, one of the wisest investments is learning Spanish. No matter what field you work in (or want to work in), the ability to speak Spanish can really pay off and supercharge your career.
Students who have been part of Fluency Corp’s Spanish language training programs have experienced this again and again. Learning Spanish for work opens doors for them to new opportunities and new levels of success. Here are just a few reasons you may want to consider Spanish classes to advance your career.
Speaking Spanish Can Help You Get an International Job
Did the pandemic put your dreams of getting a job overseas on hold? Thanks to the coronavirus vaccines, it’s time to start working toward your goal again. Optimism for global economic growth this year just keeps increasing. And that means more jobs.
Learning Spanish is one of the most powerful things you can do to open up your opportunities to work internationally. Spanish is widely spoken around the globe. Only Mandarin Chinese has more native speakers. By 2050, 754 million people globally will speak Spanish. There are 20 countries where Spanish is the official language.
Spanish is Popular in the U.S.
Learning Spanish for work is still beneficial even if you have no plans to move outside of the U.S. The number of Spanish speakers in this country is increasing. By 2060, the U.S. will have more Spanish speakers than any other country except Mexico.
Throughout the U.S., companies need more workers skilled in Spanish. That need is particularly large in areas with large Hispanic populations, which include some of the hottest cities in the U.S. right now for relocations.
So if you’re moving to San Antonio (61.2% Hispanic), Phoenix (41.9%) or Miami (68.2%), for example, investing in some Spanish lessons should really pay off for you.
(A quick aside here: Not everyone in the U.S. who is of Hispanic origin speaks Spanish, and many, many U.S. Spanish speakers are also proficient in English and use it outside the home.)
Business Leaders Speak Spanish
In some occupations, it’s especially important to have some Spanish fluency. If you lead a workforce that includes a significant number of Spanish speakers, learning their language is an invaluable way to connect with your employees and show respect for them.
That’s why Envoy Air chose to work with Fluency Corp. Envoy wanted its leaders to better understand the culture of the different countries that its Spanish-speaking employees are originally from.
Through Fluency Corp’s language instruction, executives learned how to hold conversations in Spanish with employees about topics such as their families and how long they have worked for the company. By speaking to employees in their native language, Envoy executives are now building respect and collaboration.
We Need Nurses and Doctors Who Speak Spanish
This past year has shone a spotlight on the U.S. healthcare system. One of the key needs is for more professionals who can speak Spanish. Less than 6% of physicians in the U.S. are Spanish speakers. There’s also a need for more nurses who can speak Spanish.
For healthcare professionals who need to communicate in Spanish with their patients and their families, a couple of semesters of language study back in college just won’t cut it. A general Spanish class doesn’t cover medical terminology like “intubate” or “hospice.”
If you work in healthcare and want to improve your Spanish skills, you should seek out Spanish training that’s customized to the needs of your profession.
Spanish is an Advantage in Travel Jobs
After being hit hard by the Covid pandemic, travel is beginning to rebound. Airlines are starting to hire pilots and flight attendants again. Many theme parks and hotels are also on a hiring spree. Learning Spanish can give you an edge in landing travel and tourism jobs.
It can also boost your paycheck. For example, bilingual flight attendants are more likely to be assigned to international flights, which means more time in the air — which means more money.
Learning Spanish Expands Your Mind
Maybe nothing else in this article really applies to you, but you’re still interested in learning Spanish. Is it still worth the investment to take classes? Absolutely! Learning a second language can have some unexpected payoffs for your career. Becoming bilingual improves your intelligence, attention and other skills that can make you more creative and innovative.
How to Learn Spanish for Work
We hope you’re feeling sold on the benefits of learning Spanish for work. So how do you go about it? What kind of Spanish language training is most effective? Here are a few tips for selecting a training option that will help you build Spanish fluency quickly.
- Working with an instructor who’s a native Spanish speaker will help you get a better sense of how the language is actually spoken in real-life situations.
- You’ll also want to find out whether an instructor has specific training in teaching Spanish to non-native speakers.
- For best results, work with an instructor who has at least two years of experience teaching Spanish to professional adults.
- Your Spanish classes should be customized to your needs at work. You don’t want to waste your time on cookie-cutter lessons. Instead, your lessons should center on building the vocabulary you need in your specific field and for the situations you engage in every day.
At Fluency Corp, we’ve helped professionals in all fields develop the Spanish skills they need for career success. Questions about how to get started with learning Spanish for work? Reach out! We’ll be in touch.
