Choosing to learn a new language can be scary and if not approached correctly, can be very frustrating. If however it is approached correctly, it can be a fun experience, and the new skills are always beneficial. Spanish in particular is becoming increasingly dominant in the U.S. Today, and having even a moderate understanding of Spanish can help in many situations, personal or professional.

Here are 3 ways in which Spanish language skills can be beneficial:

1. Increasing your world view tends to increase overall awareness and intelligence. If you have a basic to intermediate level of Spanish, doors will open for you in ways you could never even imagine. Without it, you'll never know what it is to read a Spanish newspaper, watch telenovelas, enjoy ethnic music or many other things.

2. Expanding on this cultural openness gained by being bilingual, and in particular being able to speak Spanish, it should be noted that travel, whether domestically or abroad will be made easier. There is a whole world out there to explore, and because you have knowledge of Spanish you will also be able to pick up the basics of other romance languages quite easily.

3. More than 30% of the world Hispanic population lives in the USA and a substantial number of that percentage is aging, just as the population of the entire western world is. What makes these people unique is that a great number of them are primarily Spanish speaking, and prefer to communicate in their native tongue. This means that as time goes on, and the population continues to grow, there will be an increased need for individuals in any sector of employment who have secondary Spanish skills. It's easier to end up ahead of the game, than it is to be trying to catch up when it comes to learning a new language.