Amanda Krawczyk: AU Liberal Arts – Summer Program in Madrid, Spain Summer 2019
My earliest memories of Spanish language date back to learning the colors in elementary school. Little did I know that 15 years later, I would have completed a Spanish minor while studying abroad in Spain. As the 4th most spoken language in the world and ranked as one of the easiest to learn, learning Spanish would be a beneficial skill if you decided to study abroad in a Spanish speaking country. When I was in Spain, knowing how to communicate in Spanish not only made navigating Madrid easier, but it also greatly improved my Spanish speaking skills. Many native speakers would listen to what I was saying in Spanish and would politely correct me if I messed up. The learning in the moment was extremely beneficial to me. Spanish is also great to learn just for fun. Personally, I really enjoy being able to listen to Spanish TV shows and music and being able to understand what’s being said. Casually listening to Spanish can help improve your overall language skills and can lead to improved multitasking abilities, give speakers a better worldview, and enhance non-verbal communication. There are numerous benefits to learning any new language, Spanish or not. If you’re given the opportunity to pick up a new language, do it. Even if it’s just a few key phrases, learning a new language can give you several invaluable skills you will use for life.
