Spanish Language around Globe
The U.S. is the second-largest Spanish-speaking country in the world. The U.S. will even overtake Mexico in the decades to come. But, if you ask me whether learning Spanish is mandatory in the US or not, I would rely on a no. It is not mandatory. Learning Spanish is an option and not a compulsion. Undoubtedly, the world is moving towards learning the language, but that does not mean every person has to. In fact, more than 30 states have made English their official language in the U.S. So, Spanish becomes the second official language after English.
Speaking Spanish in USA
I wouldn’t deny the importance of Spanish in the U.S. It is also a widely taught language after English in secondary schools and for higher education. About 53% of the people are enrolled for this language. Spanish is an optional language provided to students based on the availability of the teachers and the interest of students.
Donald Trump-ex president of America has often said during his campaign that, “This is a country where we speak English. It’s English. You have to speak English.” So in the US, the focus is on English speaking rather than Spanish. Only 36% of Americans have reported that knowing a foreign language was extremely important to be successful from the economy’s point of view. In fact, there is a long history of only speaking English in America.
Contradictions
There are many contradictions regarding the Spanish language in the U.S. It is considered less important than English. There are several Spanish speakers growing in the U.S. that is because the economy is demanding it. So speaking Spanish would prove useful for your resume. The only thing that made English the first priority is Donald trump. He was the one who believed that English should be the only spoken language in the U.S. But other people in politics believe in the importance of Spanish. So Spanish can be the future language of the U.S.
Spanish in USA
In fact, going back to the time when Donald Trump was the president of America, the scenario was such that, English was mandatory. People were forced to speak English or go back. So it is completely contradictory to the statement that Spanish is mandatory. The ‘English only’ movement was to limit the Spanish speaking in the U.S. Spanish speakers were getting into trouble in the U.S. but this does not deny that the number of Spanish speakers is increasing day by day. Many cases were reported that people were being harassed for speaking Spanish and kicked out too. People speaking Spanish were mistaken for illegals and deported. People feared speaking in Spanish.
A language of future
It is estimated that by 2050 there would be about 138 million Spanish speakers, making it the largest Spanish-speaking country in the world. Spanish is continuing to grow not only in America but also in other parts of the world. Learning a second language opens up many doors of opportunity. Many companies lookout for Spanish speakers in America. Spanish can also be traced back to the past. So one can say Spanish has a past and future in the U.S. The future is of Spanish because many immigrants are speaking Spanish. People have actually become bilingual here.
Be it music, literature, politics, economics, or academics. Spanish is growing in every field in America. But that does not make it mandatory. It all depends on you. Yes, I agree that learning the language will surely prove valuable to the learner.