My name is Paul and this is my story

Spanish is the fastest growing language in the United States, and in this modern day world it has become so important that we learn it, because it can even affect the money that we make. For example about 6 years ago I had just graduated from a tech school in medical assisting. I took the program so I could get a decent job, but I soon found out that more was required than just a medical assisting certificate.

Almost every time I went to apply for a job at a clinic I was asked "Do you speak Spanish?" I didn't at the time and so I didn't get the job. I then promised myself that I would learn to speak Spanish. It was not easy, but I finally learned the language. This changed my life, I got a job at a hospital in the field I enjoyed, however I ended up quitting to be an apartment manager, which gave me free rent and paid me more money. I only got both these jobs because I could speak Spanish, which opened the doors for my employer to a larger market. I love the Spanish language, and I know that I can get what ever job I want now and that Spanish wont stop me. I always find it funny that I spent more money on my medical assisting degree than learning Spanish, but Spanish is what got me the job.

Another way Spanish has benefited me is vacationing. My wife and I went to Cancun this summer and we were able to do things that most visitors wouldn't have the chance to do. We rented a car that saved us money (taxi fares) We were able to ask directions to locals. We even had a free tour of Aztec ruins, because the tour lady said she was grateful we took the time to learn her language.

These are just a few examples of the benefits I have received from learning Spanish. I have received many, and know that I will receive many more. The only thing I would change is that I would have liked to learn Spanish as a kid because it has been proven that kids retain more and learn faster.

Did you know that 15 % of the U.S. population speaks Spanish? Listed below are some statistics taken from the U.S. census

U.S. Census

Population
44.3 million The estimated Hispanic population of the United States as of July 1, 2006, making people of Hispanic origin the nation’s largest ethnic or race minority. Hispanics constituted 15 percent of the nation’s total population. (This estimate does not include the 3.9 million residents of Puerto Rico.)

About 1 of every two people added to the nation’s population between July 1, 2005, and July 1, 2006, was Hispanic. There were 1.4 million Hispanics added to the population over the period.

3.4% Percentage increase in the Hispanic population between July 1, 2005, and July 1, 2006, making Hispanics the fastest-growing minority group.

102.6 million The projected Hispanic population of the United States as of July 1, 2050. According to this projection, Hispanics will constitute 24 percent of the nation’s total population by that date.

22.4 million The nation’s Hispanic population during the 1990 census — just slightly over half the current total.

3rdRanking of the size of the U.S. Hispanic population worldwide, as of 2005. Only Mexico (106.2 million) and Colombia (43 million) had larger Hispanic populations than did the United States (42.7 million). (Spain had a population of 40.3 million.)


27.4 years Median age of the Hispanic population in 2006. This compares with 36.4 years for the population as a whole.

107-Number of Hispanic males in 2006 per every 100 Hispanic females. This was in sharp contrast to the overall population, which had 97 males per every 100 females.

32.2 million-The number of U.S. household residents 5 and older who speak Spanish at home. Spanish speakers constitute nearly one in eight U.S. household residents. Among all those who speak Spanish at home, more than one-half say they speak English very well. (Source: 2005 American Community Survey)


29%-Percentage of Texas residents who speak Spanish at home, which leads all states. This compares with the national average of 12 percent. (Source: 2005 American Community Survey)


9.9 million The number of Hispanic family households in the United States in 2006. Of these households, 62 percent included children younger than 18.

-This information comes from the u.s. census