Learn Spanish

If you’re planning to move to Spain learning at least some of the language will be crucial in terms of how well you adapt to your new life abroad.

That may sound obvious but it’s surprising how many ex-pats (especially the British variety) put little or no effort into mastering the basic vocabulary of their host country.

Embarrassing Brits abroad are notorious for assuming their own language is supreme and as such should be understood by all foreigners, particularly when spoken in a loud and superior tone! The Dutch, Scandinavians, Germans and Americans – in fact most other foreign buyers in Spain – put the British to shame when it comes to making an effort to learn the local lingo.

The British now represent the biggest proportion of Spain’s ex-pat property buyers and it’s true that many of them seem to get by quite happily living in enclaves of their fellow countrymen where a word of Spanish is rarely heard. But those who are determined to do so much more than just “get by” will find that even the most excruciating attempts at speaking Spanish will open doors and enrich what might otherwise be a rather blinkered ex-pat lifestyle.

Generally speaking, the Spanish are extremely friendly and hospitable people and most will go to great lengths to make you feel at home when they see you’re making an effort to get to grips with their language and culture. Spaniards are boundlessly forgiving of ghastly grammar and mispronunciation. But many foreign property buyers who don’t even try to communicate in Spanish have found their lives being made unexpectedly difficult by the disgruntled locals.

If you’re of pre-retirement age and intend to find work in Spain, obviously your prospects will greatly improve if you can speak Spanish even though you may not be fluent when you arrive in the country. And if you plan to send your children to a Spanish school it’s essential to have a good command of the language so you can discuss their progress and any problems with the teachers. It’s a common misconception that all teachers in Spain speak English (some refuse to on principle even though they can!).

It’s important to remember that Spain has four official languages and you may find yourself living in a region where the most widely spoken language, Castilian (Castellano), takes second place. Catalan is the main language of Catalonia in the north east of mainland Spain and a variation of it (Valenciano) is used throughout the Valencian community. The ancient and highly unusual language of Euskadi is used in the Basque region and Galego is the first language of Galicia in the North West corner of the country.

In a few remote areas the older villagers may only speak and understand the language of the region. But in most areas you can get by with Castilian Spanish.

When it comes to the actual learning process – well, these days you’re spoilt for choice. You can learn online, invest in a DIY pack of CDS, books and other teaching materials, hire a private tutor or make a beeline for the bars where all the locals hang out. Nothing squashes those inhibitions better than a few glasses of the local firewater!

Classroom learning might seem too reminiscent of school days but if you’ve just moved to Spain it’s a great way to meet new friends.

Many language schools in Spain offer innovative combined courses so you can spend a couple of weeks learning Spanish while enjoying various adventure activities or developing other new skills such as scuba diving or flamenco.

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If you would like to learn spanish select from one of the area links below to find a selection of Spanish Language Schools and Spanish courses in Spain. Just click on the province of interest and browse through the listed schools. Every School should have an email address and telephone numbers for contact purposes.

Spanish schools and language courses in Spain:

If you want to learn spanish click here to get started and learn some useful everyday spanish words and phrases

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