why take spanish?
At the end of the 19th century, 60 million people were Spanish speakers. Today, nearly 500 million people across the world speak Spanish natively or as a second language! Spanish is the mother tongue of approximately 425 million people in 21 countries including Equatorial Guinea (Mexico: 106.2 million, Spain: 40.3 million, Argentina: 39.5 million, Colombia: 43 million, Venezuela: 25.4 million, Peru: 27.9 million...).
Spanish came to North America in the 16th century with the Spanish conquistadores that settled in St. Augustine, Florida. Spanish-speaking communities flourished in several parts of the continent over the next few centuries. Then, in 1848, due to the Mexican-American War, Mexico lost almost half its land to the United States, including portions of modern-day Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, California, Wyoming, Nevada, and Utah. Overnight, hundreds of thousands of Mexicans became citizens of the United States, bringing with them their rich history, language, and traditions.
Today, Spanish is the second most used language in the United States, and Spanish and English are in competition for the second most spoken language worldwide. The Hispanic population in the United States has grown by 60 per cent in just one decade. At present there are 60 million Hispanics, representing 18.3% of the total population. After English, Spanish is the most commonly spoken language in 43 states. There are 45 million people who speak Spanish as a first or second language and six million Spanish language students in this country. Not only is Spanish found and heard almost everywhere in the United States, but it is the most commonly taught foreign language in classrooms throughout the country. The United States Census Bureau predicts that almost half of the U.S. population could be Spanish-speaking by the year 2050!
Today, Spanish is the second most used language in the United States, and Spanish and English are in competition for the second most spoken language worldwide. The Hispanic population in the United States has grown by 60 per cent in just one decade. At present there are 60 million Hispanics, representing 18.3% of the total population. After English, Spanish is the most commonly spoken language in 43 states. There are 45 million people who speak Spanish as a first or second language and six million Spanish language students in this country. Not only is Spanish found and heard almost everywhere in the United States, but it is the most commonly taught foreign language in classrooms throughout the country. The United States Census Bureau predicts that almost half of the U.S. population could be Spanish-speaking by the year 2050!
Recent studies have shown that our increased estimate of speech rate in a second language, at least when it is either normal or slow, could be due, in part, to the fact that we are trying to understand what is being said. The less we understand, the more we feel that the rate is too fast. Future studies desire to show how this estimate of rate evolves over time as oral comprehension improves. If there is progress, then estimates of speaking rate may start resembling those of native speakers, or at least of fluent bilinguals. Increased practice of Spanish will result in the slowing of the perceived rate of speech. We encourage all students to continue practicing in order to accomplish complete fluency. So, today, make the conscious choice to improve your Spanish proficiency by reading a book in Spanish or watching Spanish television or film.
CAPÍTULO DEL AÑO 2018
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