Estate agents on the Costa del Sol
Learning the language - we can all do it!
If you are considering moving to Spain, you may have idly wondered how much Spanish you really need to speak to live here and be happy.
The answer, of course, is personal and subjective! Some British people can live in Spain for decades without venturing beyond simple greetings and questions - what they consider necessary to “get by”. You, however, might have a radically different view of what it means to “get by”. Maybe you would like to discuss local politics with your neighbours, or engage in conversation with your butcher about local recipes.
Whether you belong to the former or the latter group of people, you will certainly find happiness in Spain. The language barrier is not so much of an issue as it was, say, 30 years ago. Many people (especially the young) speak passable English and will be happy to practice while interacting with you! However, you will also come across those who look down upon Brits who make little effort to integrate.
Before continuing, I would like to point out that despite the general idea that some people are “hardwired’ in such a way that enables them to learn languages easily, and others are not, the reality is not so simple. Do not let this belief hold you back! So long as you persevere and are not afraid to make mistakes (we all do, don’t worry about it), learning a bit of Spanish will be a doddle.
This is arguably even more the case if you have kids. When my family moved abroad when I was little, my parents quickly had to learn some of the local language in order to cope with parent/teacher evenings, play-dates, school festivities and other social gatherings. However, the Costa del Sol draws so many foreigners that you may find yourself chatting in English anyway!
Whether you’re interested in making the most of your time living in Spain by honing a new skill, you just want a new hobby, or learning Spanish is a necessity for you, there are many options available.
You can take some formal language courses here or here. This is better suited to a student with clear goals and money to spend on improving their language skills. A quick internet search will yield more results, so if this is the route you want to go down, you’re going to be spoiled for choice!
Another good option is to seek out other language learners who would be willing to do a “language exchange” with you. This website can help you find partners. You may even find these people by asking around language schools, or checking social media platforms. This is a good option if you want to learn more “naturally” through conversation, and want to save money on a teacher. This does entail conversing in your native tongue, however, and being patient at times!
Alternatively, you can go with the flow and pick up the opportunities as they come! Have a little chat here and there with the cashier, waiter or gardener. As time goes on, you will gain confidence, which is the key in my opinion.
Learning another language is an incredibly rewarding, albeit challenging, endeavour to undertake, and I encourage you to give it a go and to keep in mind that whoever you’re talking to, they have heard an accent worse than yours and appreciate you making the effort. Go forth and converse!