Learning Spanish - You can do it!
One of the major frustrations faced by British expats living in Spain is their inability to communicate with the Spanish.I find it bizarre how some of the most academically, intelligent British people I know, simply cannot get beyond the concept of masculine and feminine words, let alone hold a simple conversation in Spanish.
When I look around the urbanisation that I currently live on, the Eastern European cleaning staff have a level of Spanish that would put the average Brit, that's lived here for a decade to shame.
So what exactly is wrong with the British, why can't we learn other languages? Is it a question of laziness and complacency that "everyone speaks English anyway"? Could it be that we are stuck in a superior, coloniser mindset that the 'other' should learn our language for their own good? My own belief, based on what I have seen from living in the Costa del Sol, is that most British expats are desperate to be able to communicate in Spanish. However, a number of factors hold us back.
Firstly, our naturally inhibitive culture prevents us from letting ourselves go. Therefore, we freeze whenever we have to communicate in a language other than our own. We hate to make a fool of ourselves by sounding silly in a foreign language so we stick to speaking in English, as it is the only language in which we can be taken seriously. Although, I previously disagreed that we still had a coloniser mentality, I do wonder if our reluctance to speak in another language apart from our mother tongue is our way of avoiding putting ourselves in the 'underdog' position. Therefore, we persist to speak in English, expecting to be understood by at least someone, in order to maintain an even power level.
The consciousness of 'getting it right' can be very restrictive when trying to communicate spontaneously as is needed in everyday life situations. British people often fail to realise just what is required when learning Spanish. Many expect to be fluent after a few lessons. If only it were that easy, I would be fluent in about ten different languages by now.
It is worth putting in some effort and finding some learning techniques that suit your learning style. Although, you can get through life without speaking Spanish on the Costa del Sol, life can get pretty frustrating at times and you will miss out, especially if you intend to stay.
Written by
Susan Pedalino
www.womeninspain.com
