Learning Chinese is an aspiration for us all. After all, when in Rome… But did you know learning Spanish offers a similarly impressive reach and an abundance of opportunities? It’s a language that can open the doors of opportunity for work and play – plus, it’s generally regarded as easier to learn. David Cornado, Head Program Coordinator, Spanish Culture Association of Hong Kong, shared his insider knowledge into the power of learning Spanish, and the eight ways it could change your life.
#1. YOU’LL BE SMARTER.
“Learning a new language can help you in many areas – it’s known to boost your brain power and improve your memory, for instance. When you learn Spanish, your brain has to adapt to a new set of rules and new patterns, then your cognitive thinking and problem-solving skills will also improve.”
#2. YOU’LL NETWORK MORE EFFECTIVELY.
“Another language will also improve your networking abilities; not only will you be able to communicate and interact with more people but you’ll also learn to see things from different perspectives, making you more flexible and capable to adapt to different circumstances.”
#3. YOU’LL BE MORE POPULAR.
“You’ll be able to meet new friends in your Spanish class while sharing a new hobby. There’s a big community of Spanish expats on Lamma island; they meet up every weekend in Lamma’s local pubs and restaurants, or relax by the beach.”
#4. CAREER OPPORTUNITIES WILL ABOUND.
“Spanish is the third most spoken language in the world after English and Chinese; a total of 21 countries have Spanish as their vehicular language, so learning it will open you to a wide range of new career opportunities. If you work in an international firm, you’ll definitely get a chance to use your Spanish skills.”
#5. YOU COULD GET A PAY RISE.
“Being able to communicate in another language, like Spanish, can help you being promoted into new job roles and getting a salary rise – or even finding a new job.”
#6. TRAVEL BECOMES EASIER AND MORE AUTHENTIC.
“Spanish is widely used in almost the whole of the American continent, including the south of the US like in California and Florida. To explore (and use your newly acquired language), you can plan a trip to over 20 Spanish-speaking countries including Chile, Mexico, Cuba, Argentina, Peru, Colombia, Costa Rica and more.”
#7. YOU’LL SEE FASTER RESULTS THAN LEARNING CHINESE.
“If you’re already an English speaker, Spanish is one of the easiest languages in the world for you to learn. Compared to Chinese, I would say the effort is perhaps three times less!”
#8. UNLOCK AMAZING FILMS.
“Spanish films and arts are some of the best in the world. Learning Spanish unlocks a whole new rabbit-hole of movies, shows, and docos on Netflix.”
Want to learn Spanish and change your life?
Try one of these Spanish schools:
spanish.hk: The Spanish Cultural Association of Hong Kong focuses on group lessons for kids, teens and adults. This is a great option for families looking to learn together.
spanishtutors.com.hk: Spanish Tutors Hong Kong is great for private lessons, and exam oriented lessons for professionals.
See more in our Living in HK section
Expat life in HK: The story of a frequent flyer
