Career opportunities
        With Spanish being one of the three most 
        widely spoken languages in the world, the 
        ability to speak Spanish opens up a wide range 
        of opportunities in the commercial, educational 
        and hospitality fields, across a vast number of 
        countries throughout the world.
        Teaching Spanish in Victorian                                         For further support in developing  
        schools                                                               a Spanish language program,  
                                                                              please contact:
        Spanish is offered in primary and secondary                           LOTE Unit
        schools as well as in community schools. The                          Student Learning Programs Division
        Victorian School of Languages offers Spanish                          Department of Education
        through Distance Education and face to face                           Telephone: 9637 2041
        classes in several locations.                                         Fax: 9637 2040
        The Spanish Government, through the Education                         www.education.vic.gov.au/
        Office at the Spanish Embassy, offers support                      Informationstudentlearning/teachingresources/lote/ 
        for the learning and teaching of Spanish. The                       
        Education Office provides advisory services,                          Spanish Advisor:
        Language Assistants, professional learning,                           Telephone: 9637 2064                              Why learn
        information about scholarships in Spain,                              Spanish Education Office:
        educational resources, a magazine, online                             http://www.mec.es/sgci/au
        resources and mailing lists.
        There is a branch of the Education Office at                          Spanish Education Office in Melbourne             Spanish?
        the Spanish General Consulate in Melbourne                            Telephone: 9347 9834
        (see contact details below).                                       FurtherEmail: asesoriamelbourne.au@mec.es 
        Teaching resources are available on loan free of                      Victorian Association for Teachers of Spanish 
        charge from:                                                          (VATS)
                                                                              http://www.spanishlinx.vic.edu.au/vats.htm 
        Languages and Multicultural Education Resource 
        Centre (LMERC) at http://www.education.vic.
        gov.au/studentlearning/programs.htm
        The Spanish Cultural Resource Centre “Alejandro 
        Malaspina” in Canberra, a section of the Spanish 
        Education Office, at http://www.mec.es/sgci/au/
        es/consejeria/crecursos/presentacion.shtml 
        Telephone and Fax: 02 6239 7153
                                                                                                  © Department of Education 2007.
        Spanish-speaking countries                                       English and Spanish both use the Latin alphabet and              Travelling
                                                                         some Spanish words are already familiar to English 
        Spanish is one of the three most widely spoken                   speakers, as English has absorbed many Spanish                   From California in 
        languages in the world. It originated in Spain and               words such as fiesta, merino, siesta, guerrilla,                 the United States of 
        is now spoken by over 400 million people in over                 mosquito or patio. Other words and expressions                   America to Tierra del 
        20 different countries across four continents.                   like guitarra, tortilla, amigo, hombre, sombrero,                Fuego in the southern 
        Spanish is the official language of most of Latin                and hasta la vista are well known thanks to films                tip of South America, from 
        America. It is also widely spoken in Israel, Morocco,            and popular culture and many others are easily                   Easter Island in the Pacific 
        the Philippines, and the United States of America,               recognisable due to a common Latin origin.                       Ocean to Majorca in the 
        where 40 million people are native Spanish speakers.             In Spanish you can take a taxi, autobús or metro                 Mediterranean Sea, Spanish 
                                                                         from the aeropuerto to your hotel and have some                  is the key language for 
        Spanish ranks second after English as the world’s                                                                                 travellers. If you dream 
        most popular choice for people wanting to learn                  café, chocolate or té at the cafetería or some paella,           of travelling to exciting 
        a second language. Spanish is also one of the six                gazpacho, or tomates and patatas at a restaurante,               places such as Mexico, 
        official languages of the United nations.                        and afterwards, listen to a concierto at the teatro.             the Caribbean Islands, 
                                                                         Culture                                                          and the Andes, or of visiting 
        Why Learn Spanish?                                                                                                                ancient Roman sites, castles from the Middle 
        Learning any second language is good for young                   Spanish is the language, not only of a range of                  Ages or exotic palaces such as the Alhambra in 
        people’s mental development. Research shows that                 popular cultures, but one of the richest literary                Spain itself, a knowledge of the Spanish language 
        when it comes to learning languages, the earlier                 and artistic languages in the world.                             will greatly enrich your experience.
        you start, the better and easier it is.                          Apart from the famous dances of flamenco, salsa                  Trade
        Learning a second language not only provides                     or tango, you may be familiar with Latino singers or 
        a deeper understanding of other cultures and                     film stars such as Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek                 Spain is a member of the European Union with 
        societies, it also provides the student with additional          and Penelope Cruz, artists such as Picasso,                      very close ties to Latin America, and is the second 
        all-round advantages, including enhanced literacy,               Dali and Frida Kahlo, or the                                     fastest growing economy in the European Union. 
        verbal and mathematical skills, increased creativity,            architect Gaudi.                                                 Spanish speaking countries offer extensive trade 
        and improved ability to solve complex problems.                                                                                   opportunities for Australia, and trade between 
                                                                                                                                          Spain and Australia has been steadily increasing 
        Spanish language skills can open doors to a wide                                                                                  in recent years.
        range of employment opportunities in many 
        different countries throughout the world.                                                                                         Many Latin American countries are members of 
                                                                                                                                          the Asian-Pacific organisations of which Australia 
        Spanish is very easy to learn!                                                                                                    and New Zealand are also members.
                   The rules for spelling and pronunciation                                                                               Several Australian companies operate in Latin 
                    are relatively simple and consistent.                                                                                 America, including AGL and Hoyts cinemas.  
                                Spanish is a very accessible                                                                              Some Spanish companies also operate in 
                                   language for English                                                                                   Australia, for example, Camper, Mango, Navantia, 
                                   speakers.                                                                                              Ka International, Astralpool, Acciona and 
                                                                                                                                          Ferrovial.