The Benefits of Being Multilingual

Did you know…There is no official language of the U.S.?

The main languages are English (82.1%), Spanish (10.7%), other Indo-European (3.8%), Asian and Pacific island languages (2.7%), other languages (0.7%)

Research indicates that a person who is multilingual has an advantage in the following areas: learning, complex thinking and creativity, mental flexibility, interpersonal and communication skills, and even a possible delay in the onset of age-related mental deteriorations later in life? (Marsh et al., 2009)

There are 28 countries where Spanish is either the official language, or a close second?

According to the United States Census Bureau in 2008, 45.5 million U.S. residents claim Hispanic ancestry and 34 million Americans aged 5 and over speak Spanish at home?

Hispanics are the fastest-growing minority group in the U.S. In some states, they can’t be considered a minority at all? (Economic Benefits of Learning Spanish, 2010)

The nation’s Hispanic and Asian populations are estimated to triple over the nexthalf century and non-Hispanic whites would represent about one-half of the total population by 2050? (Census Bureau Projects Tripling of Hispanic and Asian Populations in 50 Years; Non-Hispanic Whites May Drop To Half of Total Population, 2010)

(Passel & Cohn, 2008)

People Who are MultilingualJuan Carlos is an accountant: He said that by speaking English and Spanish, he gets more accounts than his coworkers because no one else speaks Spanish. Many of the accounts of the Spanish speaking people are large…which means a larger revenue for him.Julie is a Social Worker: She said that Spanish is what qualified her for the job she currently has. She can offer help to people even if they do not speak English.

People Who Wish They Were Multilingual

Ben paints cars: He is applying for a higher position as a painter but the applicant must speak either Spanish or polish.

Brynn is a hair stylist: She said she would be able to expand her clientele to include Spanish speaking customers and it would therefore increase her revenue.

Jack is a demolition contractor: He bids jobs for demolition and coordinates the union workers. He said knowing Spanish would save him money because he has to pay someone to translate his instructions for the union workers.

Who is Multilingual?Pitbull

Beyonce

Christina Aguilera

Kate Bosworth

Salma Hayek

Daddy Yankee

Shakira

Ozzie Guillen

Maya Angelou

Will Smith

Nelly Furtado

Penelope Cruz

Jennifer Lopez

Natalie Portman

Kobe Bryant

How has Spanish helped me?I can communicate with more people. I have some close friends who did not know much English when I met them, but, since I spoke Spanish, we were able to develop a friendship. 2 of the 3 jobs I have had I got because I am bilingual I met my husband on a tour because he was the tour guide, and I was the only one in my group who could speak Spanish.

What does being multilingual mean for you?

Your knowledge of Spanish will allow you to travel and experience the Spanish culture, literature, movies and other. (Clemens 2008)

If you plan to attend a graduate school, law school or even medical school, a second language will look good on your transcripts and give you an edge in a competitive world. Grades are not the only thing that admission committees are looking at when deciding whether or not to admit you to their program. (Clemens 2008)

If you are a student who needs some extra income, your Spanish language skills will allow you to make a nice part time income giving Spanish lessons to your peers. (Clemens 2008)

Knowing Spanish as a second language will make you attractive to employers and more valuable to your company once you have a job. Companies and governments often pay a premium wage for bilingual employees, so you can usually get paid more from the start. (Clemens 2008)

Bilingualism will reward you with about a 15% increase per year in your pay. (Bilingual Skills Quantified, 2007)

Translator Job Description for Chicago, IL

“Translates documents and other material from one language to another. Reads material and rewrites material in specified language or languages, following established rules pertaining to factors, such as word meanings, sentence structure, grammar, punctuation, and mechanics.: May specialize in particular type of material, such as news, legal documents, or scientific reports and be designated accordingly.” (Source: eDOT Job Description)

Where is English Spoken?

Where is Spanish Spoken?

Places Where Spanish and English is Spoken

Spanish is All Around YouSpanish radio stations:

93.5/103.1 Recuerdo95.5 Mega105.1 La Que Buena106.7 La Kalle107.9 La Ley

Latin dance classes, Spanish books, Spanish movies

Spanish TV stations:Channel 44 TelemundoChannel 60 UnivisionChannel 66 Univision