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Pinoy Abroad

World's top Spanish-speaking countries

By ANDREI MEDINA AND VERONICA PULUMBARIT, GMA News

As some 450 million people worldwide are Spanish speakers, learning the language is useful for Filipinos. President Benigno Simeon Aquino III and Spain's Queen Sofia both welcomed the reintroduction of the Spanish language in Philippine education. At a dinner in Malacañang on Tuesday, Queen Sofia said teaching the Spanish language in public schools will open up “opportunities to secure the well-being of future generations of Filipinos in the globalized world.” The Philippines, named after a 16th century Spanish king, was a Spanish colony for more than 300 years.
Queen Sofia, daughter of the former king of Greece, has been on a four-day visit to the Philippines since Monday. She is married to Spain's King Juan Carlos.
Useful Spanish Phrases
Spanish is spoken in many countries where a good number of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) reside. The language is spoken by some 450 million people in 21 countries. It is thus practical to learn a few Spanish phrases such as: ¡Hola! Hello! Buenos dias. Good morning. Buenos tardes. Good afternoon. Buenos noches. Good evening.Read more
Top 10 Spanish-speaking countries According to the Maps of the World website, the top 10 Spanish-speaking countries are: 
1. Mexico Spanish speakers: 91,080,000 Estimated number of Filipinos: 662* 2. Colombia Spanish speakers: 41,880,000 Estimated number of Filipinos: 92* 3. Argentina Spanish Speakers: 35,860,000 Estimated number of Filipinos: 241* 4. Spain Spanish Speakers 29,860,000 Estimated number of Filipinos 52,611   5. Venezuela Spanish Speakers 23,310,000 Estimated number of Filipinos 216 6. United States Spanish speakers: 20,720,000 Estimated number of Filipinos: 3,166,529* 7. Peru Spanish speakers: 20,470,000 Estimated number of Filipinos: 299* 8. Chile Spanish speakers 13,640,000 Estimated number of Filipinos: 176 9. Ecuador Spanish speakers: 11,760,000 Estimated number of Filipinos: 150* 10. Dominican Republic Spanish speakers: 8,270,000 Estimated number of Filipinos: 196
* Based on the 2010 Stock Estimate of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas Culture of 21 countries In an interview with GMA News Online on June 23 during the celebration of the Dia de la Amistad España-Filipinas (Philippines-Spain Friendship Day), Jose Maria Fons, cultural head of Instituto Cervantes, said it was good to learn Spanish, spoken in 21 countries. "Our language is the second most  studied language in the world," Fons said. According to its website, Instituto Cervantes is a worldwide non-profit organization created by the Spanish government in 1991.  There are 77 Instituto Cervantes centers in 44 different countries.
 
The institute's mission is to promote the teaching, study and use of Spanish as a second language.
Instituto Cervantes teaches Spanish at affordable rates, from P4,300 up. The institute teaches Spanish for specific groups such as:
  • children
  • teenagers
  • health workers and caregivers, and
  • call center agents, among others. 
Fons said "there is already a new regulation implemented by the Philippine government bringing back Spanish to the secondary system. So far, there are 52 Philippine high schools offering Spanish. It’s an elective. The number of students, teachers and schools are increasing. It’s present in the different universities in UP, Ateneo, and La Salle." "Our main role here is to try to establish  cultural links between Spain and the Philippines. Very important is to show you the best thing we have we believe which is our culture, our language, say 'hey guys, this is what we have to offer,'” Fons said. - GMA News
Tags: spain, spanish
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