Spanish: Your Key to a Global Future
Consejería de Educación en el Reino Unido
Spanish Embassy Education Office
Why learn a foreign language?
Is it important to learn a foreign language?
REASONS WHY
- Spanish: a global language
- Spanish: skills for life
- Spanish is easy to learn!
- Spanish is exciting and social
- Spanish for education
- Spanish for travelling
- Spanish for culture
- Spanish for communication
- Spanish for business
- Spanish for the UK’s future prosperity, security and influence in the world
10
SPANISH: a global language
21
countries
Spanish is spoken as an official language in
countries
635 million
potential users of Spanish in the world
More than
(7.5% of the world's population)
520 million native Spanish speakers
(6.2% of the world's population)
Almost
519, 115,258
List as many Spanish-speaking countries as you can.
Source: El español en el mundo 2025. Instituto Cervantes.
SPANISH: a global language
3rd mother tongue in the world, after Mandarin Chinese and Hindi.
4th language in terms of global number of speakers, after English, Mandarin Chinese and Hindi.
By 2060, the USA will be the 2nd Spanish-speaking country in the world, after Mexico. And 27.5% of of its population will be of Hispanic origin.
Official language of the UN, EU, and FIFA.
SPANISH: a global language
SPANISH: a global language
SPANISH: a global language
Vídeo Bad Bunny
SPANISH: a global language
SPANISH: Skills for Life
- Boost communication, creativity, and confidence.
- Improves problem-solving, cultural awareness and adaptability.
- Skills employers want!
SPANISH is easy to learn!
Spanish is consideredone of the easiest languages for a native English speaker to learn.
- Spanish is a phonetic language (Spanish is pronounced as it is written and vice versa).
- Only 5 vowels and they are pronounced the same every single time.
- The grammar and pronunciation are different from English, but simpler and more consistent.
- Because English acquired almost 30% of its vocabulary from Latin, you’ll immediately recognize and understand many Spanish words that share the same roots.
- You can communicate a lot with simple grammar, so even before you’ve reached a high level of comprehension you will be able to communicate and express yourself.
SPANISH is easy to learn!
List of cognates (1001)
actor
bar
natural
SPANISH is exciting and social!
Communicate with 600 million people who speak a different language is a really great feeling.
Talk to people from 21 countries.
Spanish creates self-confidence to explore other countries and cultures around the world.
SPANISH is exciting and social!
Make new friends, Travel more easily, and connect with others!!!
When you visit a foreign country, do you try to make new friends? Have you got Spanish speaking friends?
SPANISH for education
SPANISH for education
GCSE
Languages at Key Stage 4
- England = Spanish has grown to narrow the gap with French. In 2025, Spanish is already the most popular GCSE language.
- Northern Ireland & Scotland = Spanish is now the most popular language at both GCSE and A-level!!!
- Wales = More and more students are choosing Spanish instead of other languages.
Source: Language Trends England 2025. British Council. Page 25
Start now and go far! If you start now, Spanish will be super easy later!
SPANISH for education
GCSE
Spanish is the most chosen GCSE (and A-level) language in England, Scotland & Northern Ireland
England
Start now and go far! If you start now, Spanish will be super easy later!
SPANISH for education
When you’re older, you could take Spanish A-levels.
A-level
For the sixth year running, Spanish is the most popular language at A level, according to official exam data. Spanish continues to have the highest number of A-level entries.Spanish is firmly in the top spot and will continue to be.
Source: Language Trends England 2025. British Council. Page 28
SPANISH for education
IT helps you get a degree !
Spanish + [Any Field] = Success
- Take a language degree
- A joint degree (1 Ex: Law & Spanish)
- A dual degree (2 Ex: Law + Spanish)
Speaking Spanish opens doors: university, jobs and travelling the world.
SPANISH for education
It takes you places!
If you carry on with your language learning...
Degrees often involve some time working or studying abroad ...
Imagine studying in Madrid, working in a hotel, and making friends all over the world!
SPANISH for travelling
Have you ever been to Spain? Where did you go?Did you speak Spanish? What did you say?
SPANISH for travelling
YOU CAN TRAVEL MORE CONFIDENTLY!
- Travelling is one of the most enriching experiences you can have, the quality of that experience will be significantly enhanced by the ability to speak Spanish.
- 21 Spanish-speaking countries.
Popular tourist destinations: Spain, Mexico, Cuba and the Dominican Republic.
- Perfectly possible to enjoy a holiday in a Spanish-speaking country without a knowledge of the language, but it will restrict where you can go and who you can communicate with.
- In general, those without the ability to speak the language will need to stick to tourist areas, which often means missing out on entire aspects of a country’s culture.
21
countries
SPANISH for culture
YOU CAN ENJOY NEW CULTURES
You can experience a different culture to your own and discover similarities and differences between both cultures.
traditions festivalsmusic, dances food art films way of life history climate
SPANISH for culture
SPANISH for communication
7,9% of Internet users communicate in Spanish.3rd most used language on the internet, after English and Chinese. 2nd most used language on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Netflix, Wikipedia, Instagram, etc.
SPANISH for business
SPANISH for business
IT gets you a job!
Being able to speak other languages is a skill that gets you ahead
The UK trades with over 200 countries worldwide.
UK businesses need people with language skills, to operate at all levels.
Communication barriers lead to missed business opportunities.
SPANISH for business
IT gets you a job!
Why Spanish is a Super Skill?
- Spanish helps you connect with Europe & South America.
- Speaking another language makes you stand out from others.
- It is a special skill that employers really like.
- It shows you are good at communication, ready to learn new things, and not afraid of a challenge!
SPANISH for business
IT gets you a job!
- Business and finance (ex: Inditex)
- Marketing and sales
- Education
- Art, design and media
- Retail and hospitality
- Translators
- Engineering
- Health workers
- IT workers
- Scientists
SPANISH for business
Can you put these languages in the correct order that the UK needs them, according to a British Council study?
10
French
Italian
Russian
Arabic
Portuguese
Spanish
Mandarin Chinese
German
Japanese
Dutch
SPANISH for business
Can you put these languages in the correct order that the UK needs them, according to a British Council study?
10
French
Italian
Russian
Arabic
Portuguese
Spanish
Mandarin Chinese
German
Japanese
Dutch
SPANISH for business
Source: Languages for the Future, 2017. British Council. Pg. 4
Spanish – Britain’s favourite foreign language The British Council’s Languages for the Future report, 2017, found Spanish, Mandarin, French, Arabic and German are the top five priority languages / crucial importance for the UK’s prosperity, security and influence in the world.
SPANISH for business
SPANISH for business
SPANISH for UK future
10
Important for the UK’s future prosperity, security and influence in the world.
The UK trades with over 200 countries worldwide.
University of Cambridge «The economic value to the UK of speaking other languages» 2022
SPANISH for UK future
10
If more students in the UK learn Spanish at school, it could help the country make billions of pounds more over the next 30 years — around £9.1 to £9.7 billion extra!
SPANISH for UK future
10
«The economic value to the UK of speaking other languages» 2022 SOME KEY FINDINGS
- People who speak more than one language often get better jobs and earn more money.
- Spanish helps the UK do business with more countries.
- If more people in the UK spoke Spanish, Arabic, French or Chinese it could add up to £19 billion a year to the economy from selling products abroad.
- For every £1 spent on language education, the UK could gain £2 in return.
- So learning Spanish is good for you — and for the UK’s future!
Languages in the UK, British Council
Spanish, a Super Skill
Global Fun Useful
Confidence Connection Opportunities
Education Travel Work
Spanish is more than a language: it’s a super skill for life, Spanish is a superpower!
¡Gracias!
¡Gracias!
@consejeriauk
@consejeria_uk_ie
25-26 - V6 Importance of learning SPANISH updated Nov25
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Transcript
Spanish: Your Key to a Global Future
Consejería de Educación en el Reino Unido
Spanish Embassy Education Office
Why learn a foreign language?
Is it important to learn a foreign language?
REASONS WHY
10
SPANISH: a global language
21
countries
Spanish is spoken as an official language in
countries
635 million
potential users of Spanish in the world
More than
(7.5% of the world's population)
520 million native Spanish speakers
(6.2% of the world's population)
Almost
519, 115,258
List as many Spanish-speaking countries as you can.
Source: El español en el mundo 2025. Instituto Cervantes.
SPANISH: a global language
3rd mother tongue in the world, after Mandarin Chinese and Hindi.
4th language in terms of global number of speakers, after English, Mandarin Chinese and Hindi.
By 2060, the USA will be the 2nd Spanish-speaking country in the world, after Mexico. And 27.5% of of its population will be of Hispanic origin.
Official language of the UN, EU, and FIFA.
SPANISH: a global language
SPANISH: a global language
SPANISH: a global language
Vídeo Bad Bunny
SPANISH: a global language
SPANISH: Skills for Life
SPANISH is easy to learn!
Spanish is consideredone of the easiest languages for a native English speaker to learn.
SPANISH is easy to learn!
List of cognates (1001)
actor
bar
natural
SPANISH is exciting and social!
Communicate with 600 million people who speak a different language is a really great feeling.
Talk to people from 21 countries.
Spanish creates self-confidence to explore other countries and cultures around the world.
SPANISH is exciting and social!
Make new friends, Travel more easily, and connect with others!!!
When you visit a foreign country, do you try to make new friends? Have you got Spanish speaking friends?
SPANISH for education
SPANISH for education
GCSE
Languages at Key Stage 4
Source: Language Trends England 2025. British Council. Page 25
Start now and go far! If you start now, Spanish will be super easy later!
SPANISH for education
GCSE
Spanish is the most chosen GCSE (and A-level) language in England, Scotland & Northern Ireland
England
Start now and go far! If you start now, Spanish will be super easy later!
SPANISH for education
When you’re older, you could take Spanish A-levels.
A-level
For the sixth year running, Spanish is the most popular language at A level, according to official exam data. Spanish continues to have the highest number of A-level entries.Spanish is firmly in the top spot and will continue to be.
Source: Language Trends England 2025. British Council. Page 28
SPANISH for education
IT helps you get a degree !
Spanish + [Any Field] = Success
Speaking Spanish opens doors: university, jobs and travelling the world.
SPANISH for education
It takes you places!
If you carry on with your language learning...
Degrees often involve some time working or studying abroad ...
Imagine studying in Madrid, working in a hotel, and making friends all over the world!
SPANISH for travelling
Have you ever been to Spain? Where did you go?Did you speak Spanish? What did you say?
SPANISH for travelling
YOU CAN TRAVEL MORE CONFIDENTLY!
- Travelling is one of the most enriching experiences you can have, the quality of that experience will be significantly enhanced by the ability to speak Spanish.
- 21 Spanish-speaking countries.
Popular tourist destinations: Spain, Mexico, Cuba and the Dominican Republic.21
countries
SPANISH for culture
YOU CAN ENJOY NEW CULTURES
You can experience a different culture to your own and discover similarities and differences between both cultures.
traditions festivalsmusic, dances food art films way of life history climate
SPANISH for culture
SPANISH for communication
7,9% of Internet users communicate in Spanish.3rd most used language on the internet, after English and Chinese. 2nd most used language on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Netflix, Wikipedia, Instagram, etc.
SPANISH for business
SPANISH for business
IT gets you a job!
Being able to speak other languages is a skill that gets you ahead
The UK trades with over 200 countries worldwide.
UK businesses need people with language skills, to operate at all levels.
Communication barriers lead to missed business opportunities.
SPANISH for business
IT gets you a job!
Why Spanish is a Super Skill?
SPANISH for business
IT gets you a job!
SPANISH for business
Can you put these languages in the correct order that the UK needs them, according to a British Council study?
10
French
Italian
Russian
Arabic
Portuguese
Spanish
Mandarin Chinese
German
Japanese
Dutch
SPANISH for business
Can you put these languages in the correct order that the UK needs them, according to a British Council study?
10
French
Italian
Russian
Arabic
Portuguese
Spanish
Mandarin Chinese
German
Japanese
Dutch
SPANISH for business
Source: Languages for the Future, 2017. British Council. Pg. 4
Spanish – Britain’s favourite foreign language The British Council’s Languages for the Future report, 2017, found Spanish, Mandarin, French, Arabic and German are the top five priority languages / crucial importance for the UK’s prosperity, security and influence in the world.
SPANISH for business
SPANISH for business
SPANISH for UK future
10
Important for the UK’s future prosperity, security and influence in the world.
The UK trades with over 200 countries worldwide.
University of Cambridge «The economic value to the UK of speaking other languages» 2022
SPANISH for UK future
10
If more students in the UK learn Spanish at school, it could help the country make billions of pounds more over the next 30 years — around £9.1 to £9.7 billion extra!
SPANISH for UK future
10
«The economic value to the UK of speaking other languages» 2022 SOME KEY FINDINGS
Languages in the UK, British Council
Spanish, a Super Skill
Global Fun Useful
Confidence Connection Opportunities
Education Travel Work
Spanish is more than a language: it’s a super skill for life, Spanish is a superpower!
¡Gracias!
¡Gracias!
@consejeriauk
@consejeria_uk_ie