According to San Jose State University, Portuguese is the native language of approximately 240 million people around the world, as of 2011. It is no surprise then that Portuguese ranks as the third most widely spoken European language in the world, just behind English and Spanish. Learning Portuguese doesn't just open up obvious communication advantages with so many people, but can have a positive impact on a much wider range of areas in your life, including travel, work and cultural opportunities.

Employment
According to the University of Cambridge, Portuguese is a language for which demand exceeds supply, so being able to speak it opens up a host of job opportunities. As Portuguese is the fifth most widely spoken language in the world, in use across four continents, job opportunities exist across the globe. Fluency in Portuguese can lead to jobs in a wealth of areas, from teaching and translation to business and government.

Travel
Learning Portuguese will also enhance your travel possibilities. Portuguese is not only the official language of Portugal but also of Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, the Cape Verde Islands, East Timor, and is widely spoke in Goa and Macau. Consequently, being able to speak Portuguese allows you to gain an intimate knowledge of these countries as you will be able to converse with the locals and head off the beaten track. It also opens up study opportunities at colleges and universities within these Portuguese-speaking countries.

Culture
If you're interested in the cultural aspects, like the literature, film or music of a Portuguese-speaking country, learning the language is a crucial step in your understanding and appreciation. Without the necessary linguistic skill, you will always be forced to read subtitles or translations. Learning Portuguese also opens up the opportunity of meeting and developing relationships with native speakers. Learning about their culture, traditions and way of life can be a rewarding and enriching experience.

Skills
Learning Portuguese, or any other language, has the added advantage of developing new and transferable skills as well as improving cognitive processes. Regardless of age and intellect, learning Portuguese will improve your memory, strengthen your problem-solving and analysis skills, communication skills and can even offset age-related cognitive losses. Learning to speak Portuguese will also aid in creating an overall positive attitude towards Portuguese-speaking people, their culture and way of life.