Spanish

Why you should study Spanish

Piña coladas, tortillas, chimichangas, and the whole enchilada, it’s hard not to get hungry and a little thirsty when you think about Spanish.  But Spanish is so much more than food, drink, and beachfront resorts.  Spanish is the official language of more than 20 countries, mother tongue of 400+ million people worldwide (Ethnologue, 2012), one of the UN’s six official languages, and definitely a language to consider if you’re planning on taking a language at Carleton.

Carleton’s Spanish instructors are a diverse, engaging, and passionate group representing many countries of the Hispanophone world: Cuba, Mexico, El Salvador, Spain, Argentina, Colombia, and Chile.  And, while instructional styles may vary, classes generally explore both the language itself (speaking, listening, reading, and writing) and the culture/history of countries where Spanish is spoken.

Also, if you’re someone who speaks English and has studied a little French, you’ll be happy to discover that you’re already ahead of the game.  A lot of the vocabulary and grammatical structures you have already learned are likely shared by other romance languages like Spanish.

While learning a language does not always have to lead to a job, career opportunities for those with Spanish proficiency are as widespread and diverse as the world’s Spanish speakers.

Of course jobs like translator, technical writer, and teacher are possibilities, but you may also want to consider:

• Diplomatic policy analyst specializing in the Americas
• Supply chain manager for Canada-Mexico trade
• Immigrant settlement program manager in Montreal
• Manager of Canadian youth volunteers with projects in Central America

Proficiency in a widely-spoken language like Spanish can open doors and lead to rewarding career paths you may have never considered before!

Fun Facts

And now, a few fun facts:

• Mexico has almost 3 times as many native speakers as Spain.
• The world’s biggest tomato fight, La Tomatina, takes place every year in the Spanish town of Buñol.
• No tooth fairy for Spanish speakers. In the Hispanic world, children who lose their teeth receive gifts from a mythical rodent, Ratoncito Pérez, “rat of the teeth”.
• Have you seen the painting of the melting clocks? This work is called “The Persistence of Memory” and was painted by famed Spanish artist Salvador Dali.
• Mark your calendars.  21 October is International Day of the Nacho.  Named after the dish’s inventor Ignacio “Nacho” Anaya, the first plate of “Nachos especiales” was served in the town of Pierdras Negras, Mexico in 1943.

Registration Information

Space in language courses is limited.  Register as early as possible.  If the course is full when you attempt to register, please submit a Course Registration Override Request or, if applicable, add your name to a waitlist on Carleton Central.  Click here to learn more about how waitlisting works.