This has left the Sub-Saharan country poor. Like the fact that some places simply aren't safe, while others are beyond fabulous for their cuisine, natural surroundings and attractions. Spanish speakers, so it’s a great place to practice your Spanish. Combining the culture and the scenery is enough to make anyone want to travel to these Spanish-speaking countries. These countries are Equatorial Guinea and Western Sahara. It may be one of South America's smallest countries, but the humble people of Uruguay don't mind. If you want to improve your Spanish language skills or start them from scratch, there are several great … And the best place to access native speakers is, of course, in a country where the language is widely spoken. Mexico has the largest population of Spanish speakers in the world — about 121 millionnative speakers. This country on the Equator is home to the world-famous Galapagos. The 30 Best Spanish Language Movies of All Time. How can anyone complain about a country that cares for its environs the way Ecuador does? Most of Costa Rica’s population, which is just shy of, Argentina is an enormous South American country (the eighth largest in the world), bordered by the Andes Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean. Even before the pandemic hit, the South American country was listed on the State Department's "Do Not Travel" list. The latter is exactly what Peru did in an attempt to save and preserve Machu Picchu. Colombians speak Spanish, making it the South American country with the most Spanish speakers. It alone is enough to highlight the pure awesomeness of the Philippines. He studied journalism at Ithaca College and previously managed social media for CBS News. This way you know exactly where and where not to put your language skills to the test. 24. This timesaver has made Panama a big player in the business world. Learning about customs and traditions in Spanish-speaking countries. There are over 20 Spanish speaking countries and more than 70 nations with measurable Spanish speaking populations worldwide. About 42 million Argentines speak Spanish natively. There are just five places in the world designated Blue Zones, and Costa Rica is one of them. Who needs the limelight when you're focused on caring for your people? That's really a shame because the South American country is an underrated hiking destination and is considered the "Tibet of South America.". Nearly 40 percent of Californians, 30 percent of Texans, 25 percent of New York City alone and 20 percent of Floridians speak Spanish — with a whopping 60 percent of Miami's population fluent in the language. So you want to immerse yourself in the French language? Charles Darwin developed his theories of evolution on these islands that are both in the Northern and Southern Hemisphere. One favorite is Riviera Nayarit outside of Puerto Vallarta, where Sayulita provides a Boho beach vibe. Sorry, U.S., but you're really the worst for anyone looking to get an authentic taste of that Hispanic flavor. Ecuador, a Spanish-speaking South American country located on the equator (hence the name), has it all: a Pacific coastline, a section of the Andes Mountains, a chunk of the Amazon and, perhaps most beautiful of all, the Galapagos Islands — a volcanic archipelago that’s home to an incredible amount of biodiversity. In August 2020, the embassy alerted Americans, asking them to avoid the country due to ongoing demonstrations. Sorry, U.S., but you're really the worst for anyone looking to get an authentic taste of that Hispanic flavor. Panama's canal makes it easy for ships to sail between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans without having to travel around Cape Horn. There is no “best” Spanish. Here are 10 international destinations where you can unpack, get to work, and stay a while. The best countries to work abroad are affordable, safe and offer job opportunities for foreigners (or at least reliable WiFi for virtual entrepreneurs). You can pretty much count on a lot of places being closed or only in half-day mode during the week. Spain is a fabulously beautiful country with delicious food and wine. Mexico has the largest population of Spanish speakers in the world — about 121 million native speakers. One of the many benefits of teaching English abroad is the unique opportunity it provides for learning a second language of your own at the same time. Because of this, Panama City is a thriving city of ex-pats. Complicating matters still further is the fact that Colombia is far from the only country which claims to possess the best Spanish in the globe. Spanish is widely spoken in the country, though its official language is Catalan. The city nicknamed the “Paris of South America” is world-renowned for its culture and diversity. 21 (including Puerto Rico) What Spanish- Speaking country has 2 capitals? In addition to its gorgeous seaside cliffs, Gibraltar is known for being a tax haven (AKA paradise for shoppers and companies with offshore bank accounts). My wife and I made the effort of learning Spanish and it has meant a marked … Or do you put limitations on visitors? But look at this picture! Do you erect more hotels and turn it into a bigger-than-Disney attraction? These are not selling points! All but two are Spanish speaking, and two require a European move. But there are also differences between countries in Latin America and, many times, withing the same countries! Catch a feisty hot tango, sample some of the best steak of your life at a Churrasco Argentino Parrilla and soak in the energy of the business capital that is Buenos Aires. Which are the best Spanish speaking countries for teaching English abroad? Buenos Aires, Argentina. When you think of Spanish-speaking countries, the Philippines probably doesn’t come to mind. But why do all these countries speak a different kind of Spanish?When the colonials arrived in Latin America, they took thei… Mexico. Number of Spanish Speakers: 44.05 million. Looking at the 21 countries where Spanish is the official language plus four where it is a majority and strong minority language, we ranked these 25 Spanish-speaking countries from worst to first based on a variety of factors. That's not hard to do in El Salvador, where you'd be amazed to discover it has its own "Pompeii" in Ceren, a town buried for 1,400 years beneath volcanic ash. ), this South American country’s popularity is no surprise. 2. But Panama is so much more than its capital. This is great news because it means those who go get the uninterrupted beauty of a country committed to its natural surroundings. With the cartels much more under control, the country is now trying to shed its image as a haven for gangsters and drug lords. Tucked between Nicaragua and Panama, this tiny Central American country is home to lush rainforests and tranquil beaches, and is a great place to visit if you’re into outdoor adventure. (But be careful, they like to steal from backpacks!). Not to mention that the vibrant nation of Peru is home to about 25 million Spanish speakers that can help you nail your skills. This South American country has everything you could want in a vacation: historic cities, pristine beaches, sprawling vineyards and one of the liveliest Carnaval celebrations outside of Rio. In addition to its gorgeous seaside cliffs, Gibraltar is known for being a tax haven (AKA paradise for shoppers and companies with offshore bank accounts). It's proximity to Antarctica plus the towering Andes Mountains and otherworldly Patagonia make this country a stunner. And it’s working. This was the land of the Moors or Spaniards, and the evidence of both are found across the very small territory. Argentina is an enormous South American country (the eighth largest in the world), bordered by the Andes Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean. Although the language was made unofficial, it is a voluntary and optional auxiliary language, and schools offer it as a subject. Andorra is popular among tourists, mostly because of its high-quality ski resorts in the Pyrenees Mountains. But fast-forward three decades, and the country is truly thriving. #SpanishCulture #LatinCulture #SpanishSpeakingCountries. Forget the British, who only want this land to control the entryway into the Mediterranean. Outside Latin America except Spain, there are two primary Spanish speaking countries. Not easily quantifiable. The vast majority of the country’s population speaks Spanish — just over, Another potentially surprising entry on this list is the African nation of Equatorial Guinea, where Spanish is one of the three official languages. All of this with fewer tourists than other nearby countries? Spanish is widely spoken in the country, though its official language is Catalan. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, travel to Colombia increased by nearly 10 percent in 2015 alone. Since we weren’t going to be able to do much, even look for apartments, we decided to delay our trip. Often overlooked as a destination perhaps due to its Latin American location, it shouldn't be. The blog is all about Spanish slang and speaking Spanish in the real world. The country is made up of the mainland and five volcanic islands, and features such highlights as tropical forests filled with primates and elephants and beautiful beaches inhabited by butterflies. [Insert scary South American dictator name here.] Once known as the most dangerous countryin the entire world, Colombia’s tourism industry is absolutely exploding these days thanks to increased security and a stronger government. There are too many people in the world who think that the only Spanish-speaking countries are Spain and Mexico. Some may disagree, but I don’t have to be impartial: Mexico is the... 2. For more than a century, the country was off-limits, and its people were poorly treated. But are you prepared for the language challenge? Twenty years ago, Equatorial Guinea struck it rich with the discovery of oil. Plus, the classic cars from mid-century America slowly rolling down the streets in bold colors is hauntingly cool. It's bouncing back but isn't 100 percent yet. ... As a former British colony, the locals speak English. Still, its decline as a popular language is what keeps the Philippines out of the top 10. But the FARC Rebels and the Colombian government made peace, and kidnappings have fallen by 92 percent since 2000. If you’re a nature lover, this trip is for you. So, it got us thinking: Which ones are the best? native speakers. ….now multiply that by 100++ across the many regions of the Spanish speaking Americas (including migrant to 3rd generation mixed speakers in “anglo” America). And it offers so many choices of places to see and things to do. You might know Spanish, but do you KNOW Spanish? The Dominican Republic (DR) was a real hot spot for tourism. Located at the northern tip of South America, Colombia is known for its trendy cities, lush rainforests and delicious coffee. It’s also known for introducing the world to Tango dancing. Because of its size, Argentina encompasses a wide variety of environments, including the modern city of Buenos Aires, snow-covered mountains, lakes, forests, wetlands and deserts. In Spanish, Honduras translates into "great depths," and boy, does Honduras have depth. Number of Spanish Speakers: 11.21 million. We ranked the Spanish-speaking countries from worst to best, so you know exactly where to put your language skills to the test. Bolivia (La Paz, Sucre) Spanish is the _____ most spoken language in the world. The political scene has been a mess in Bolivia since 2019, and human rights are struggling. It's small enough to fit inside of London three times, yet Andorra is filled with charm 10 times over. Most Spanish Speaking countries have processions every day. The are some differences between the Spanish spoken in Spain and the one spoken in Latin America. It’s also relatively affordable to visit, which makes it an ideal place to practice your Spanish skills. The Hispanic culture can be exciting — the food, the colorful art and the rhythmic tunes that urge you to dance. Blue Zones are places where people live the longest, and it's easy to see why Costa Ricans fare so well. Apart from the long-standing ban on Americans traveling to Cuba that was only recently lifted (with many restrictions), you have a country that is stuck in time due to its politics. Whether you like beaches, culture, nature or history, there’s sure to be a great destination out there for you to enjoy. It’s also known for introducing the world to Tango dancing. There are more than 7,600 islands that make up the country, and these are surrounded by beautiful aquamarine waters and topped with lush forests. It doesn't help that the capital city, Caracas, has the worst murder rate for a major city in the world. Spanish Speaking Countries outside Latin America. About 787,000 native Spanish speakers live in Equatorial Guinea, which is a majority of the population. Colombia is working hard to redeem itself, and tour groups are entering the rainforests once again to explore. Not only is Uruguay the least corrupt of Latin American countries, but the country also sends more troops to support the United Nations than others, church and state are entirely separate, the government handed out free laptops to all of its students to improve education, and even one of its presidents was so humble he lived on a farm instead of a mansion and donated 90 percent of his salary to charity. We should be thanking the Ecuadorians for taking such good care of the islands. Approximately. English is the official language of the British territory, but Spanish is widely spoken there due to its proximity to Spain. 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