Jaume Gelabert, Professor of Spanish and Linguistics at Loyola University Chicago (2004-09) and director of programmes for Spain and Cuba at Arcadia University (2009-21), has given a session on business Spanish and Spanish for specific purposes, at the framework of the Master's Degree in teaching of Spanish as a Foreign Language language . Under the degree scroll "Con eñe de business: el español como language mundial de negocios", he gave an overview of the status of our language in the world and explained how it has become language of international commerce and culture.

As he explained, the latest data of high school Cervantes indicates that in 2021 more than 493 million people will speak Spanish as a native language and this figure reaches 591 million (only surpassed by Mandarin Chinese and English) if we take into account the potential users of Spanish in the world -native speakers, skill limited and students of Spanish as a foreign language language -. On the other hand, as indicated by high school Cervantes, Spanish speakers in areas where Spanish is not the official language language, but adjacent to an area where it is, have greater business opportunities, more economic and cultural interaction, and a greater flow of qualified professionals.

In this context, the offer of Spanish for Specific Purposes (EFE) programs in U.S. universities has increased in recent years, as noted by speaker. "The way our language is taught in this country, which in 2060 will be the second largest Spanish-speaking country in the world after Mexico, has also changed drastically. At the beginning it was done in a residual way, but now it is given with a more realistic Philosophy : after the free trade agreement between Canada, the United States and Mexico, the teaching of Spanish has been greatly enhanced for specific purposes in terms of business, tourism and the medical sector, areas in which great business has been seen." In contrast, he said that, as a sociolinguist, "it has always struck me that the United States is not on the map of Spanish-speaking countries, despite the fact that more than 60 million people currently speak Spanish. "Although psychologically Americans and foreigners do not see the United States as a Spanish-speaking country, it is a Spanish-speaking country by plenary session of the Executive Council right," he added.

On the other hand, the expert has stressed the need to reinforce the cultural competencies of students in the teaching of languages for specific or business purposes. "We cannot detach language from culture. When teaching a language, it is essential to take into account the cultural aspects of a society: Colombia, Peru or the Caribbean area are Spanish-speaking countries, but radically different". For this reason, he encouraged them to take into account eight parameters: communication, assessment, persuasion, leadership, decision, confidence, disagreement and diary: "Acquiring the lexicon to teach business is very easy; what is complicated but fascinating, entertaining and exciting is to take into account the cultural codes that characterize the target of your students, because culture cannot be separated from language".

Jaume Gelabert is graduate in Spanish Philology by the Universitat de les Illes Balears (1995), Master's Degree in Spanish Linguistics by The University of Mexico, USA (2000) and PhD in Spanish Linguistics (Sociolinguistics) by The Pennsylvania State University, USA (2004). He has been Professor of Spanish and Linguistics at Loyola University Chicago (2004-09) and director for Spain and Cuba at Arcadia University (2009-21). He has published on metaphors, pronouns in political language and methodology of teaching of language foreign .