Speaking English in Spain: 5 Things Americans Need to Know

Before we started moving to Spain, we tried to learn a little bit of Spanish in advance, thinking we would be at least somewhat prepared for daily life in our new country. We were also told that there was a LOT of people who speak English in Spain. Boy, were we surprised to find out otherwise! That’s why I wanted to write this post- because speaking English in Spain is something you’ll want to read up on before you move to Spain with your family. (And sadly, the 4+ years of high school Spanish left us woefully unprepared for our move.)

Here’s our best tips for getting by with speaking English in Spain, and what Spanish phrases are best to learn asap so you can communicate in Spanish when needed.

The City of Arts and sciences a place with little speaking english in Spain. Lathrops Gone AWOL

Languages spoken in Spain

The main language spoken in Spain is Castellon (Spanish). Not only do they speak Castellon (Spanish), but the different autonomous regions have different languages as well. This caught us by surprise, as we did not learn that Valencia had it’s own regional language during any of the research we had done prior to moving to Spain!

For instance, in the Catalan Region (where Barcelona is located), they speak Catalan.

And in the Valencian Region, with Alicante, Benidorm, and of course Valencia, they speak Valenciano.

Then you have Galician in the region of Galicia and Basque in the Basque country- both along northern Spain (Bilbao, Santander, etc).

And the different regions are all very proud of their heritage and languages. This means they will often have at least 1 (or more) class in the regional language at school.

Valencia Spain Colon Business Center where some speaking English in Spain happens. Lathrops Gone AWOL

Learning to speak Spanish as a busy person

Living in Spain as an American, I wish I had learned basic Spanish at least a year before moving (things like basic phrases, conjugating terms, tenses). This would have helped us navigate the medical, schooling, and bureaucracy problems we ran into and still struggle with today.

One of our suggestions is to get a private tutor to help you learn Spanish. We have used Preply to help our kids and ourselves get caught up on Spanish.

Another option would be to use a platform like Busuu or Babbel. I have personally used both of these apps and they will get you ready to start communicating about everyday things, such as ordering food and buying everyday needs.

Duolingo is one app I would NOT suggest, but to use it as a supplement. We tried using it a few months before moving and thought we knew Spanish. But boy did we learn this app is not made to help you communicate. It is more of a vocabulary tool, taking a more academic approach to learning Spanish. (Essentially, you’ll learn phrases like ‘The rat eats the cheese’ instead of ‘Can you tell me where the bus station is?’) Don’t rely on this app alone or you will be sadly disappointed.

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English in Spain

We are a family of Americans living in Valencia. And over the last seven years, the amount of English being spoken by the locals has gotten 1,000 times better. However, it is still not easy to find someone speaking English in Spain all the time. You can definitely get along at the store, or a restaurant, but there’s times when speaking Spanish will absolutely be necessary.

For example, speaking English in Spain can be very difficult when you have to go to a government building or even the doctor. There is a chance that you may not be able to speak to anyone in English at healthcare and government buildings. (Our children usually help us communicate at those types of appointments, as our process of learning Spanish is frustratingly slow going.)

Little Larry speaking English in Spain but learning to read in Spanish. Lathrop's gone AWOL

The same may not be true for Baracolna or Madrid, however. Since those cities are much larger, they might have a lot more English-speaking locals, even in government or medical offices.

And high-tourist areas like Benidorm and Alicante usually have a fairly high level of English spoken in Spain.

If you are an American planning on moving to Spain, please don’t think speaking English in Spain is as common as Reddit or Google might have you believe.

You will be extremely stressed to find yourself in situations where you simply cannot communicate well and this can be quite frustrating. (Speaking English in Spain is a tourist area specific.

It will be immensely helpful to learn Spanish at least a year before moving to Spain from the US. Or, if you have the time and energy, enrolling in a Spanish immersion class once you arrive can be infinitely helpful as well.

Staying up to date on Spain’s local news in English

While living in Spain as an American, I highly suggest you stay up to date on the local news. Spain has a few press companies that you can use, but the one that is best for English speakers is the Olive Press.

You can also use Facebook groups. I find these groups a bit more political for my taste. However, you can find some great meetups and gatherings in these groups.

Getting Spain news in English

If you want current news about Spain and prefer it in English, there is a great YouTube channel that does a fantastic job highlighting the news in English. He even gives his perspective as an expat living in Spain for almost 25 years.

The channel I recommend to get Spanish news in English is the YouTube channel Spain Speaks.

Getting American news in Spain

To get updated on the English news in Spain from the USA, I watch live streams on YouTube from networks like ABC News Live and other popular news networks.

You are not going to have a problem finding news about the United States. You just need to do a quick YouTube search or Google search to find your favorite news channel.

Conclusion

Moving to Spain can be an exciting adventure, but being prepared for the language barrier is crucial. While English is becoming more common in tourist areas, relying solely on it can lead to frustration, especially when dealing with essential services like healthcare and government offices.

This article recommends starting to learn Spanish at least a year before your move. There are many resources available, from private tutors to language learning apps like Busuu or Memrise.

Remember, even basic Spanish will go a long way in helping you navigate daily life in Spain. Embrace the opportunity to learn a new language and immerse yourself in the rich Spanish culture.