¡Bienvenidos al departamento de español!

Welcome to the Spanish Department Site!

The Department of Spanish at the Tarpon Springs Campus aims to equip students with the language skills and cultural understanding and sensitivity that prepare them for employment, continuing education and transferring foreign language credits to another institution of higher learning.  The Department provides high quality instruction from elementary through advance levels and offers courses in a traditional setting as well as blended/hybrid courses.  Students can learn and improve their speaking, reading, listening and writing skills of the language to function in a multilingual and multicultural world.

Why Study Spanish? 

If you speak Spanish, you can communicate with almost 500 million people worldwide! Think how many more employment options that gives you! And if you want to take a trip to Spain or Latin America, a little knowledge of Spanish will go a long way.

Spanish statistics:

▪    Spanish is the world's third most spoken language, after Mandarin Chinese and English, and ranks second in terms of native speakers.

▪     At the end of the 19th century, 60 million people spoke Spanish. Today, almost 500 million people worldwide speak Spanish!

▪    Spanish is the mother tongue of approximately 350 million people in 21 countries (Mexico:      98 million, Spain: 39 million, USA: 39 million, Argentina: 35 million, Colombia: 36 million, Venezuela: 22 million, Peru: 20 million…) It is also widely spoken in many more where it is not an official language.

▪    Spanish is the mother tongue of approximately 350 million people in 21 countries (Mexico: 98 million, Spain: 39 million, USA: 39 million, Argentina: 35 million, Colombia: 36 million, Venezuela: 22 million, Peru: 20 million…) It is also widely spoken in many more where it is not an official language.

▪    Hispanic consumers are the fastest-growing market segment in North America. Their population in the USA has grown by 60% in just one decade and their buying power is expected to exceed $926 million by 2007.

▪    Spanish is the second most used language in international communication and an official language of the UN and its organizations.

▪     Language skills are essential in the modern world and learning Spanish may lead

       to many opportunities at home, in Europe, and in North and South America. 

       career opportunities include: teaching, translating and interpreting, public

       service, journalism, general media, social work, tourism and international

       business.

Learning Spanish is becoming increasingly important in terms of the global economy, but it can also play a major role in your own personal development. The Spanish passion for living is contagious with its variety of culinary dishes, its fascinating music and rhythms, its diverse culture.  Once you start to learn about their language and culture, you won't ever want to stop.

Adapted from:  http://www.donquijote.org/