Spanish emerged as the second most-spoken language in the U.S years ago, according to the census.

The 37,579,787 Spanish-speakers present in the U.S. in 2011 increased by 210 percent since 1980, and those numbers have continued to climb due to the influx of immigrants from Latin countries and in-nation Latino births. That said, as the U.S. Latino population grows, second and third generations of Latinos speak Spanish less and less -- but, some younger Latinos intend to change that.

Spanish has penetrated the cultural fabric of the U.S., and bits of the language have been worked into English sentences, tag lines, adverts and common expressions. ("Hasta la vista, baby").

Spanish has become a business necessity, and many employers seek out employees who can communicate with and/or service Spanish-speaking customers. And Spanish isn't just popular in the U.S., it's popular throughout the Americas and Europe. Being bilingual opens doors to improved memory, enhanced critical thinking skills and it expands one's universe. Additionally, learning Spanish can transform experiences, in terms of empathy, travel and personal satisfaction.

Moreover, Spanish helps to connect its speakers to Latino culture and the history of the language, as well as differences and similarities between Spanish-speakers from region-to-region and nation-to-nation. This, perhaps, is why younger Latinos have opted to brush up and learn the language of their forefathers, their abuelos and, likely, a few of their primos, although, statistically, Spanish is spoken in many Latino households, many Latinos grow up speaking English, not Spanish, in their home.

Pride in heritage and mainstream assimilation doesn't have to be mutually exclusive, though it's treated that way. For some, Spanish not being spoken at home was a conscious strategy devised by parents who seemed provoked by anti-Latino or anti-immigration fears. They felt they could help their children avoid stereotyping, and help them to navigate education and business under "normal circumstances" if Spanish wasn't a factor.

In some cases, Latino children simply lacked exposure to other Latino children. And there were others who spoke Spanish, but didn't want to do so publicly because he or she was embarrassed that their Spanish was shaky. Years later, many of these children want a chance to speak the language and learn that side of heritage. To do so, many found Spanish-language courses.

In the past, singer Linda Rondstadt (Mexican-German-Dutch ancestry) studied Spanish in Mexico, so she could belt out songs in Spanish. Erik Estrada did something similar when preparing for a role on a Mexican soap opera. Melissa De Sousa, Selena Gomez, Jessica Alba, James Roday, Emilio Estevez, Lana Parrilla and many other celebrities looked to reconnect to their roots through the study of español. It's ironic. The conservative agenda continues to push for English-only schooling while nearly every other industry has finally recognized the value in Spanish inclusion.

Adults of Mexican descent, in particular, have decided to move against the English-only mentality by picking up Spanish courses. And some Latino-heavy school districts tailor Spanish language classes to the needs of Hispanic children. This indicates Spanish language diversity and it endorses a process known as "retro-acculturation," whereby U.S. Latinos learn how to navigate Latino culture. Spanish courses for "heritage speakers" from Latino household have also been implemented in numerous districts, teaching adult Latinos how to read and write in Spanish.

Compared to the past, a very low percentage of second-generation Mexican-Americans list Spanish as their dominate language. According to a 2014 Pew Research Center survey, just 6 percent of second generation Mexican-Americans stated Spanish was their dominate language. Also, 54 percent stated they were bilingual and 39 percent offered that they were English-dominant. When it came to third generation, just 1 percent claimed to be Spanish-dominant, 29 percent bilingual and a hefty 70 percent stated that they were English-dominate. Even though some began their lives as Spanish-dominant at home, school and society motivated them to convert to English.

Bilingualism is valuable in the home sphere and the work place, which is why many Latinos have sought courses to improve vocabulary or to become fluent in Spanish. But, also, many others have a newfound pride in their heritage, only discovered after years of cultural suppression for the sake of assimilation. There has been a strengthening in confidence as Latinos find their footing in the U.S.

And Spanish language schools across the nations have helped in this task. That said, Spanish does not make or break one's ties to Latin culture.

For adults, there are courses such as Futuro Latino Learning Center and ABC Languages. For children, there are Spanish language programs such as Calico Spanish, Little Pim, Whistlefritz and PetraLingua.com.

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