I did the math once and I have personally earned, roughly, an additional $150,000 over my lifetime since I started working in my teens from simply being bilingual. Instead of earning $20/hr., for example, I would earn $22/hr. because I was able to translate and speak with Spanish speakers in the places I worked. These small pay increases added up overtime, and I could have probably made more, because I never really squeezed the full potential of having this skill. All these extra pay increases were a normal part of the hiring process. I basically ended up working jobs where Spanish speakers simply got paid more.
Spanish has been useful to me in my earning potential, but it is also useful for cultural enrichment, professional development, and for personal growth. I can study literature by Octavio Paz and Carlos Fuentes. At work I am often the guy to edit someone’s emails before getting sent. And Spanglish is second-nature to me.
Being fluent in Spanish also brought me closer to other languages, such as Portuguese, which somehow resembles Spanish just enough that I am able to understand it when someone speaks it or if I read it. I’ve been able to appreciate the French language, too, because for me at least, French has always felt as an often strange, convoluted mixture of English and Spanish.
Finally, being bilingual has given me a greater appreciation for the English language, and I am often amazed at how writers, old and modern, have used English so beautifully that it is often my own barometer to consider someone a genius. There’s William Shakespeare, yes, but then there’s also writers like Vince Gilligan, Frank Darabont, Conan O’Brian, Robert Smigel, and Moira Walley-Beckett.
In short, learning another language, and Spanish in particular, can be a cultivating hobby, a fun endeavor, a lifelong pursuit and a profitable skill. This is why I’ve written the following 100 lessons to get you started.
- Introduction and Basic Greetings
- Alphabet and Numbers
- Common Expressions and Polite Phrases
- Basic Vocabulary: Colors and Shapes
- Daily Routine and Present Tense Verbs
- Family and Relationships
- Food and Drinks
- Time and Daily Activities
- Describing People and Personal Characteristics
- Basic Grammar: Gender and Number Agreement
- Weather and Seasons
- Likes and Dislikes
- Parts of the Body and Health
- Daily Routines and Reflexive Verbs
- Shopping and Clothing
- Directions and Places
- At the Airport and Travel Vocabulary
- Past Tense: Preterite
- Holidays and Celebrations
- Basic Grammar: Possessive Pronouns and Adjectives
- Hobbies and Leisure Activities in Spanish
- Daily Life and Chores in Spanish
- Travel and Transportation in Spanish
- Describing Places and Locations in Spanish
- Likes and Dislikes: Verb + Infinitive in Spanish
- Daily Routine: Present Continuous in Spanish
- Technology and Social Media in Spanish
- Work and Professions in Spanish
- Health and Fitness in Spanish
- Describing Personality and Character Traits in Spanish
- Daily Activities in Present Perfect Tense
- Shopping: Stores and Services in Spanish
- Cooking and Recipes in Spanish
- Festivals and Cultural Events in Spanish
- Daily Life in Spanish: The Imperfect Tense
- Relationships and Dating in Spanish
- Environmental Awareness in Spanish
- Travel and Vacation Plans in Spanish
- Daily Life in Spanish: The Conditional Tense
- Spanish-Speaking Countries and Their Cultures
- Expressing Opinions and Preferences in Spanish
- Talking About the Future in Spanish: The Future Tense
- Media and Entertainment in Spanish
- Invitations and Social Events in Spanish
- Health and Medical Emergencies in Spanish
- Education and Learning in Spanish
- Cultural Customs and Etiquette in Spanish-Speaking Countries
- Nature and Outdoor Activities in Spanish
- Daily Life: Subjunctive Mood in Spanish
- Art and Expression in Spanish
- Daily Life: Conditional Perfect in Spanish
- Social Issues and Activism in Spanish
- Careers and Job Interviews in Spanish
- Travel and Cultural Immersion in Spanish
- Daily Life: Present Perfect Subjunctive in Spanish
- Literature and Poetry in Spanish
- Technology and Innovation in Spanish
- Daily Life: Imperfect Subjunctive in Spanish
- Socializing and Small Talk in Spanish
- Spanish in the Workplace
- Current Events and News in Spanish
- Daily Life: Future Perfect Tense
- Business and Negotiations in Spanish
- Social Media and Online Communication in Spanish
- Daily Life – Conditional Perfect Subjunctive in Spanish
- Sports and Sporting Events in Spanish
- Cultural Diversity and Inclusion
- Technology and Artificial Intelligence
- Daily Life: Pluperfect
- Travel and Ecotourism
- Spanish Idioms and Expressions
- Daily Life: Future Perfect Subjunctive
- Culinary Culture and Traditional Dishes
- Art and Music Appreciation
- Daily Life – Conditional Perfect Subjunctive
- Social Issues and Advocacy
- Daily Life: Subjunctive vs. Indicative Review
- Spanish in the Arts and Entertainment Industry
- Daily Life: Review of Verb Tenses
- Final Review and Conversation Practice
- Introduction to Conversation Practice
- Review of Vocabulary: Synonyms and Antonyms
- Cultural Immersion: Music and Dance
- Daily Life: Real-Life Situations and Simulations
- Review of Grammar: Common Mistakes and Corrections
- Cultural Awareness: Traditions and Festivities
- Pronunciation and Intonation Practice
- Conversation Skills: Expressing Opinions and Debate
- Literature and Poetry Appreciation
- Review of Verb Conjugations: Irregular Verbs
- Spanish in the Digital Age: Online Resources and Tools
- Cultural Comparisons: Spanish-Speaking Countries and Others
- Advanced Vocabulary: Idioms and Colloquial Expressions
- Career Development and Professional Skills
- Spanish for Travel: Advanced Conversational Skills
- Cultural Perspectives: Spanish-Speaking Indigenous Cultures
- Effective Communication: Public Speaking and Presentations
- Literature and Film Adaptations
- Language and Identity: Multilingualism and Bilingualism
- Course Conclusion and Reflection