Whether languages are your forte or you simply want to boost your CV, you may be considering taking Spanish at GCSE. To make your decision a little easier, here we run through of some of the many advantages of choosing to study Spanish.

Spanish is the official language of 21 countries, many of which are economically well developed. People from these countries are likely to be business associates or colleagues in your future career. Also, Spanish is the second most common first language across the world and the second language of the USA. As we live in an Americanised world, having a solid grasp of the Spanish language will be likely to come in useful in the future.

Perhaps you struggle with languages but still want to take a GCSE in one? Spanish is a fairly easy language because it is largely phonetic so choosing Spanish at GCSE rather than, say, French or German, may take the pressure off, especially if you’re taking on a lot of subjects. A GCSE in a language is a great qualification to add to your CV. Additionally, if you achieve a language GCSE alongside two sciences, one humanities, English and Maths, you’ll be bagging yourself an English Baccalaureate certificate, which demonstrates that you’re a well-rounded student.

You will stand out from the crowd. There are almost double the GCSE entries for French then there are for Spanish in the UK so choosing Spanish for GCSE will help your CV stand out from the majority. Last year, 177,288 students chose French at GCSE whereas only 91,315 opted for Spanish. So if you’re reluctant to take Spanish because it’s not a very popular subject then don’t be fazed. This should actually work to your advantage.

If you would love to master the French language but are struggling with its challenges, Spanish GCSE is a helpful gateway in to eventually learning French as they are somewhat lexically similar. This means you can develop your language skills without the pressure of working towards a GCSE qualification in a language you find difficult. Spanish vocabulary and grammar also shares similarities to Portuguese and Italian, making it quite the investment when it comes to learning languages.

The UK’s international education body highlights Spanish as the most important foreign language to learn. What’s more, last year they calculated that only four percent of the UK population could speak Spanish fluently. This means that a commitment to learning Spanish would set you in really good stead when it comes to employment.

Knowing Spanish will seriously enhance your travelling experiences. If you are passionate about travelling, then obtaining a solid grasp of Spanish will allow you to more fully experience the cultures of Spanish-speaking countries like Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Chile and Cuba. Hispanic culture is fascinating and somewhat underrepresented, so learning about the culture, along with the language, will definitely be a rewarding, revealing and exciting experience.

So, if you have already got a knack for the Spanish language and your school offers it as a GCSE then you’re in luck. As you can see, whether you’re planning on pursuing Spanish all the way to degree level or you just want to broaden your horizons and gain linguistic skills, GCSE Spanish is a great opportunity for many different students.

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