Expats in Spain should learn the local language

British expats considering a move to Spain should take the time to learn the local language if they wish to conduct daily business in an appropriate manner, as in many of the country’s regions foreign languages including English are rarely spoken.

The call for greater language appreciation comes on the heels of a recent survey which showed that 62 percent of British travellers never bother to learn the native language of their destination country because they feel that English now is the international language.

However, in popular Spain it would be difficult to find a local who is fluent in English at the highest levels of business, let alone small business owners or merchants. The lack of willingness to adopt English mirrors the British attitude towards learning Spanish, which has been labelled in some quarters as chauvinistic.

Having a reasonable working knowledge of the Spanish language will make day-to-day interactions far easier, particularly in the subject of illness, accidents or medical insurance – commonplace amongst travellers and expats. Those wishing to make claims on their insurance policies can face significant hurdles if they are unable to understand local authorities effectively.

The message then is simple; to make the most of your time overseas it would be wise to undertake some form of research or study into the local culture and language. The greater the knowledge of your new or temporary home the greater the enjoyment will be.