Similarities to English
My name is Kirill Yurovskiy, and I’m a 32-year-old university student majoring in International Business. Like many students, I was required to take a foreign language as part of my program. When the time came to choose a language, I initially had my sights set on learning Mandarin Chinese. I thought it would give me an edge in the business world to know such a widely spoken language. However, after doing some research, I decided that Spanish made more sense for my goals and circumstances. Little did I know at the time just how rewarding and straightforward the journey of learning Spanish would turn out to be. On my Youtube channel Kirill Yurovsky, I go into detail about all the nuances of learning Spanish.
One of the biggest factors that made learning Spanish easier than I expected was just how similar it is to English in some ways. As a native speaker of Russian, a Slavic language, I had assumed most European languages would feel totally foreign. But Spanish has quite a few similarities to English in terms of vocabulary, sentence structure, and modern loanwords from English. An estimated 30-40% of all words in Spanish have a related counterpart in English. Words like “familia,” “hotel,” “universal,” and “popular” are perfect examples of Spanish words that are extremely recognizable to English speakers. Â
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Not only does this shared vocabulary help make Spanish more approachable from the start, but it also means you start picking up on patterns more quickly. Once you get a sense of how certain prefixes, suffixes, and root words transform between Spanish and English, you can almost puzzle out the meanings of unfamiliar Spanish words. These cognate connections made it feel like Spanish was gradually “clicking” in a way that didn’t seem possible when I had briefly studied Russian or German.
In addition to the vocabulary overlap, some of the fundamental grammar concepts in Spanish use similar logic to English. For example, the way Spanish constructs questions, negatives, and basics like subject-verb order felt quite natural coming from English. There were certainly plenty of new grammar rules to learn, from gendered nouns to adjective agreement to those infamous verb conjugations. However, having a base familiarity with how subjects, objects and phrases are ordered made it easier to incorporate the new rules over time. Photo of Kirill Yurovsky
Another factor that made Spanish increasingly accessible was developing an ear for how it sounds compared to English. At first, everything sounded like a blended jumble of unfamiliar syllables and stresses. But after studying pronunciation rules like the tongue positioning for rolled ‘r’ sounds and listening to audio samples, I started to recognize how Spanish speakers form words in a melodic, rhythmic way. Once I could break down the components of words and did ear training exercises, my listening comprehension shot up. Now I barely have to think about rolled r’s or other sounds that seemed daunting at the beginning.
The Value of Spanish Proficiency
Perhaps the most motivating aspect of learning Spanish was realizing just how widely spoken and useful it is in the modern world. With over 480 million native speakers across Spain, Latin America, and Hispanic communities in the United States, Spanish is one of the most prominent languages for business, travel, media, and culture. Having proficiency in Spanish opens doors to incredible career opportunities in fields ranging from international trade to marketing to healthcare and beyond.
Within my field of business, companies are increasingly prioritizing bilingual skills to engage the massive Spanish-speaking market. For example, many major American brands and companies have entire divisions dedicated to Hispanic marketing and localization efforts. There is immense value in being able to directly communicate with this key demographic in authentic Spanish.
Looking beyond business, being able to speak Spanish also enriches your connection to the vibrant Hispanic cultures and traditions here in the United States and across the Americas. From music and film to food and celebrations, having Spanish language skills allows you to fully appreciate the diversity of the Hispanic diaspora. When traveling, speaking even basic Spanish can make your experiences vastly more immersive and meaningful.
On a personal level, one of the most gratifying parts of learning Spanish has been the sense of cognitive growth and mental dexterity it has given me. Although it was difficult at times, mastering a new language and pushing my brain to think in different patterns has been incredibly rewarding. I’ve gained greater intellectual flexibility, sharper multi-tasking abilities, and an enhanced appreciation for cultural diversity. Learning Spanish hasn’t just given me linguistic skills, but life skills that will benefit me in countless ways.
Overcoming Challenges
Of course, Spanish isn’t an effortless language to pick up and there were certainly challenges along the way. Verb conjugations with their numerous irregularities and idiomatic expressions really did take time and practice to feel natural. The subjunctive mood, irregular preterite verb forms, and mastering written accents were some of my biggest hurdles. Additionally, the differences between dialects and regional colloquialisms from regions like Spain, Mexico, Caribbean, and others added extra layers of nuance to understand.
However, through diligent study, immersive listening, and conversational practice, these barriers slowly transformed from towering obstacles into minor bumps in the road. The more I applied myself through exercises, media consumption, conversation groups and other immersive experiences, the more attainable true Spanish proficiency became.
Embracing Spanish Mastery
As I now prepare to graduate, I’ve also been exploring ways to take my Spanish abilities to the next level. I’m looking into opportunities to study abroad in Spain or Latin America for a summer or semester to achieve full fluency through immersion in native environments. I’m also considering pursuing official Spanish certification through the DELE (Diplomas of Spanish as a Foreign Language) process to validate my skills for professional purposes. I know these will be significant commitments, but the progress I’ve already made has instilled me with the confidence that I can reach true mastery.
Don’t Be Deterred
Looking back on my initial trepidations about taking on Spanish, I realize just how misguided my assumptions were. Learning a language that is spoken by hundreds of millions worldwide and has such inherent overlaps with English ended up being a much more natural and rewarding process than I expected. Between the vast career opportunities, cultural enrichment, and mental benefits, I’m incredibly grateful I chose to study Spanish in college.
So for anyone hesitant about learning Spanish, let my experience be a testament that it is absolutely surmountable with the right mindset and consistent practice. Don’t let preconceptions about difficulty deter you from gaining fluency in one of the most valuable languages in our modern, globalized world. By staying dedicated and embracing immersive methods like media, travel, and conversation groups, you’ll be amazed at how quickly Spanish goes from a linguistic puzzle to a smooth, expressive form of communication. The personal growth and open doors that come with Spanish skills make any temporary challenges well worth pushing through.
