Spanish as a Second Language

Over 420 million people are native speakers of Spanish. Another 80 million speak Spanish as a foreign language. It is the Official Language of 21 countries. Compare this with 310 million speakers of English in the United States (and 70 million other native speakers around the world). English is the Official Language of 54 countries and is spoken by an estimated 1.8 billion people.

Imagine
Imagine if the citizens of the United States all became bilingual, learning Spanish as their Second Language.

Effects on Foreign Relations
Ties between the United States and the rest of the Western Hemisphere would increase. Americans would also be more inclined to learn a third language, increasing links with the rest of the world.

Effects on Individuals
Knowing more than one language changes how the brain works. People who know more than one language are more aware of their surroundings and switch between mental tasks faster. The benefits are not restricted to language skills and last a lifetime. 

Bilinguals have an easier time learning more languages.

Travelling in the Western Hemisphere would become easier for Americans. Knowledge of the language of the country you are travelling in enriches the experience.