Advantages to Learning Spanish while Living in Puerto Vallarta
Wed. 23th/Aug/2017.
Many travelers from abroad choose to make Puerto Vallarta into a long term home not only for its high quality infrastructure and big city amenities, but for the convenience of having English widely spoken. The majority of businesses, particularly in areas of the city frequented by tourists, have associates that have some level of familiarity with the language, and so many long term residents are able to get by in their daily lives without any significant knowledge of the national language.
However, learning a new language always has benefits for the curious traveler. Beyond being the only way to meet new people and fully engage with a new way of life, learning Spanish as a long term visitor can have a number of tangible effects that make the hard work and dedication language learning requires more than worthwhile for visitors who want to get the absolute most out of a stay in the area.
Learn Spanish for Customer Service
While the brick and mortar establishments of businesses dealing in goods and services typically offer at least one associate to handle customers who speak English only, other resources, such as live chats and official communications, are only available in Spanish. A basic understanding of the local language could be the difference between smoothly navigating a technical issue in a few minutes and multiple trips to a central location to solve a minor problem.
Learn Spanish for Better Negotiation
Negotiation is a commonly accepted practice in the country, and in Puerto Vallarta, negotiations are often much more flexible in Spanish. The price of virtually everything outside of restaurants and established retailers is open to a bit of cooperation between seller and buyer, and vendors are often very appreciative of an outsider who has made the effort to learn the local language.
Learn Spanish to Gain Information
As in other regions of the world, most signage and other informative content is generated in the nationally spoken language, and although some are printed in English as well, travelers should certainly not expect this outside the most tourist-focused areas. Knowledge of a few basic Spanish phrases can help you find local resources, get directions, read food packages for vital dietary information, and perform other everyday tasks taken for granted in a native tongue
Learn Spanish to Appreciate Mexican Culture
Although events, establishments and exhibitions in the area make an effort to be inclusive, many of the most treasured elements of local culture can only be fully appreciated in their original form. Learning the language can help travelers identify the lyrics to timeless songs, attend presentations in Spanish, and encounter new and interesting people to create memories that need no translation.
Learn Spanish for Emergencies
Although chances are your stay in Puerto Vallarta will be enjoyable from start to finish, there is a chance that an emergency scenario will arise, and there is no guarantee that the individuals most equipped to assist will speak English. For this reason, it is indispensable to know key phrases that can explain a pressing issue to a Spanish speaker, enabling them to provide or direct you to the services you need.
Learn Spanish for a Sharper Mind
The unique challenges associating with learning an entirely different vocabulary, syntax and sentence structure represent an excellent test of your most important resource as well as an avenue to long term improvement. Recent studies show that the brain adapts to respond as required, including by enhancing areas of the brain that are more frequently accessed.
This means that language learning can expand the capabilities of your mind overall, improving cognitive and processing skills to a measurable extent. In fact, an experiment involving American military language interpreters showed that the areas of the brain involved with language learning increased significantly in size after just three months of immersive language learning. Studying a new language in adulthood also decreases your chances of degenerative mental conditions in your later years.
Although adults may find the process of learning a new language somewhat intimidating, the advantages it offers in everyday life makes it well worth the struggle. Adults may not find it as easy to learn Spanish as children, but their understanding of how they best learn gives them a critical advantage, and self-directed learning along with plenty of practice with native speakers will see your skills improve much faster than you likely imagine!
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