Without question, if you're interested in learning a second language, Spanish is one of your best options. Whether you're looking to meet high school language proficiency requirements or simply want to round out your education, Spanish is one of the most useful languages you can learn. You may even find that learning Spanish will help you in other areas of your education.
Similarity to Other Languages
Spanish is one of several European languages based on Latin - called the Romance languages. As a result, when you learn Spanish, you'll have a beginner's key to a number of other languages, including French and Italian. Because many words in Spanish are based on Latin roots, you may find that learning Spanish will help you understand medical and scientific terms.
In fact, many people consider Spanish the easiest of the Romance languages because it lacks the complex pronunciations found in French, while still retaining a structure and root word usage that's compatible with other languages. You'll also find that the Spanish language has a natural rhythm that makes it comfortable to speak and write. In some cases, you may even find that Spanish is easier to learn than your native language!
Spoken All Over the World
Historically speaking, conquerors and missionaries from Spain and Portugal were primarily responsible for the spread of the Spanish language throughout the American continents. Today, Spanish is spoken all over Europe, as well as in Mexico and many countries in South America. That said, it's important to realize that people in specific geographic regions speak in dialects that may be very different from what you initially learned. However, the basic elements of European dialects are similar enough that you'll be able to interpret these different patterns with ease.
Easy and Convenient to Learn
Considering that Spanish is spoken by over 300 million people around the world, it should come as no surprise that locating classes and tutorials is fairly easy. If you're a high school student, you probably have the option to elect Spanish studies for free. Many colleges also offer full credit classes for students, as well as non-credit versions for community members. There are also hundreds of tapes, videos, books, and dictionaries designed to help you learn Spanish on your own. You can also take advantage of the internet to find websites, chat rooms, and other resources that are developed exclusively in Spanish.
When you're thinking about learning a second language, it's important to consider the benefits of all your different options. Unfortunately, if you choose a less commonly known language like Latin, you won't have many opportunities to practice with others or to directly use your knowledge. Learning Spanish will give you this kind of linguistic grounding. At the same time, you'll gain the ability to converse with millions of people that may or may not speak your native language. In addition, if you don't already speak English or another Romance language, Spanish offers you a key foundation to learning them.
Dutch is a language which is spoken by an estimated sixteen million citizens of Denmark and six million citizens of Flanders. The language is also used by people in some regions of various European countries. Among the other languages of the European Union, Dutch ranks as the sixth among the widely spoken languages. When you learn the language, you will be able to understand the dialect of the people if you were to visit countries in Europe like Belgium or Netherlands.
Why Should You Learn Dutch?
Like any other foreign languages, there are several reasons why a person should learn it. The following reasons are just some: - Useful for work - it is inevitable for a company to have clients with diverse nationalities, and a Dutch may be one of them. In order for you to communicate clearly with your Dutch client, it would be nice for you to learn the language. - Makes you enjoy traveling more - if you want to go to Denmark or Belgium, you can certainly use the language to know more about the traditions, history and culture of these countries. - Enrich your roots - if your parents are Dutch but you are born in the United States, learning your parents' language is the great way to enrich your origin. Additionally, it won't be that hard for you to communicate with your relatives who are living in Europe. - For further education - if you want to study in a European country like the Netherlands, learning Dutch will be a very big help to you.
The Similarity of the Dutch with American English
A lot of people who have ventured into learning the Dutch language thought that it would be very complicated. On their first day of class, they may have been intimidated with the idea of speaking this language. However, after a few days of learning it, they will find that there are a lot of similarities between Dutch and American English.
Learning the Language in a Traditional School
Despite limited schools offering the language, there are still universities which teach Dutch. When you learn to write, speak and read the language in a formal school, a teacher will guide you personally throughout the course of the program. If you have difficulty with your lessons, your instructor will see to it that you are guided well. If you study in a formal setting, you will be able to interact with your classmates using Dutch.
Learning Dutch over the Internet
Aside from learning Dutch in a formal school, you can also learn it online. Some sites over the net offer Dutch lessons for different levels of learners. You will learn the lessons with the help of multimedia files. To keep track of your progress, you will be given examinations and tests. The program is offered in a beginner level, intermediate level and advanced level. Through these levels, you will be able to enhance your skill of speaking another language in a systematic and schedule manner. This is especially helpful for those who are currently employed or studying.
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