Cabrini

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**Welcome to Introductory Spanish!** The number of students who choose to study Spanish beyond the requirement has grown dramatically in the last decade because, as you, no doubt, have already noticed, Spanish is an increasingly popular and important language in the United States. It is the unofficial second language of this country. Some information you may want to think about is that the U.S. is the second country after Mexico with the largest Hispanic population (some 50 million). Latinos are projected to be the largest minority in the country and by 2050, nearly one quarter of the population will be Latino; that means that one in every four persons will be Spanish-speaking. The effects of the rapidly growing Latino population are seen in our daily lives. The Spanish language and culture can be seen and heard everywhere: the recent change of the popular radio station Sunny 104.5 FM from rock to Latino music, using the ATM machines, dialing directory assistance 411, in airports, train and bus stations. It is documented that nearly 400 million people worldwide speak Spanish, including almost half the residents of the Western Hemisphere. In the United States, there are approximately 38 million Spanish speakers. Even the grocery stores offer many Latino food products. Therefore, if you can communicate well in Spanish, you will be more employable after graduation especially if you are contemplating a career in business, government, teaching, the health care, social work, or in another service occupation. Use it in the workplace or when traveling. If you decide to major or minor in Spanish, you can use it during an internship in Norristown with one of Cabrini’s community partners as a volunteer, or to earn two to three credits. For whatever reason, you will be glad to have had the opportunity to take this course since you will find that in some way, however small, you have crossed the language and cultural barrier which separate us from the many Spanish-speaking people of this country. Good luck and let’s have fun enhancing the Spanish skills you have already acquired, while coming to an even better understanding of the Spanish-speaking world and its people. ======

