Spanish

Gain an edge in the job market by studying Spanish. Spanish as a skill can increase your employment prospects and help you relate to the culture. 

Reasons to Study Spanish

1. Spoken Language
   Spanish isn’t a foreign language anymore. The United States is the second largest Spanish-speaking country in the world, second only to Mexico. It’s projected that the U.S. will be the largest Spanish-speaking country by 2050. California and other southern states have a rich Hispanic history. Learning Spanish will help you communicate with other Americans and understand American history. Since Spanish is so prevalent in the U.S., you will have more opportunities to speak and read Spanish here than any other ‘foreign’ language.
2. Edge in the Job Market
   Knowing a second language is a necessary skill in a global economy. Employers say they will choose a candidate who can speak another language, especially Spanish. Learning Spanish will help you to communicate with your co-workers and employees. Hispanic consumers are the fastest growing market segment, so knowing Spanish will give you an edge in many jobs, especially healthcare, education, and business trades. Bilingual employees often earn more than their counterparts who only know one language.
3. Most Like English
   Spanish is considered one of the easiest languages for English speakers to learn because of its close grammatical and cultural proximity to English. Many English and Spanish words are based on Latin, so expanding your vocabulary in Spanish can help expand it in English, too. Spanish is almost completely phonetic, so you can look at most any word and figure out how to pronounce it. With so many people speaking Spanish and a multitude of Spanish-speaking entertainment, you will have many opportunities to practice Spanish in a very real situation.
4. Stay Relevant
   Spanish will help you keep up with culture. The Hispanic influence on pop culture is strong and getting stronger. Think of all of the words and phrases we use that have come from the Spanish language, including taco, hasta la vista, aye carumba!, el nino, and living la vida loca. Hispanic celebrities including Ricky Martin, Selma Hayak, Esai Morales, Selena and directors such as Guillermo del Toro have a major Hollywood influence. Goya and Picasso have influenced the fine arts, while Miguel Cervantes and Pablo Neruda have made major literary contributions. 
5. Travel Experience
   Knowing Spanish will enhance your travel experience. Spanish is the official language of 21 countries on 4 continents, so there are many places to travel. Your travels will go much more smoothly if you can communicate at least a little. From hailing a cab to ordering dinner, knowing some Spanish will be helpful. If you only know English, you will probably confine yourself to resorts and tourist areas where English tends to be spoken. If you know some Spanish, you will be able to explore and get to know the local people. 

Class Formats

COD offers Spanish courses in a variety of formats to meet the needs of its diverse student population. It also offers the opportunity to live and study abroad in Madrid, Spain or San Jose, Costa Rica.

• Traditional: Classes meet weekly and students have the opportunity to interact with an instructor and their peers.
• Online: Internet-based courses offer independent study and flexible learning. Classes are offered online with instructor and student webcam meetings.
• Hybrid: Blending the traditional and online class creates a new opportunity for students to complete course work with reduced classroom time.

Find a Spanish Course

Contact Information

Donna Gillespie, Professor, Spanish
Berg Instructional Center (BIC), Room 2C06A
(630) 942-3513
Email: gillespied226@cod.edu

Edith Jaco, Professor, Spanish
Berg Instructional Center (BIC), Room 2E09A
(630) 942-3332
Email: jacoed@cod.edu

Bonnie Loder, Associate Professor
Berg Instructional Center (BIC), Room 2430F
Phone: (630) 942-3040
loderb@cod.edu

Elizabeth Mares, Professor, Spanish
Berg Instructional Center (BIC), Room 2430G
(630) 942-3937
Email: marese@cod.edu

Liberal Arts Division Office
Berg Instructional Center (BIC), Room 2E06
(630) 942-2047