Ah, such an ambiguous question. You want to take the plunge in teaching English abroad in Spain, but you’re thinking, “How will I get by if I don’t speak Spanish!?”
First, there are some things to think about in order to answer this question because on one hand yes and on another hand no. Let me explain.
Teaching
No, it’s not required or even advised that you speak Spanish to the students. In most cases, the schools want you to only speak your language as it creates an English environment in the classroom and helps the students learn more efficiently. While it may prove helpful to know a few phrases and words in Spanish, it is certainly not required – don’t worry!
While in Spain
First, are you living in a major city like Barcelona or Madrid or are you placed in a pueblo/village?
If you’re teaching in a major city, chances are you’ll be able to get by in day to day situations with a minimum to non-existent level of Spanish. Why? These cities are cosmopolitan and are familiar to having foreigners in their cities who don’t speak their language, in which case they know enough to communicate with you or better yet they’re completely fluent in English.
However, if the tables are turned and you’re in a smaller location with less tourism, some Spanish is likely extremely helpful to get by and to fit in within the community.
So once you’ve found out your placement (city or village), you can decide from there whether you want to practice your Spanish before or simply learn as you go upon arrival.
Try your best to be respectful
I think it’s important to be considerate of the country and its language. To be respectful, you should make an effort to use even the slightest bit of Spanish, even if that’s only “Hola” and “Adiós” in the beginning. It will go a long way in showing the locals that you respect them and their language, and it will help you feel immersed in your new home as well. Most likely you’ve been exposed to even just a few words of Spanish, so use them!
BUT I’d like to say that you’re coming to a foreign country, which can be intimidating, but it’s the experience of a lifetime. If you don’t know a word of Spanish, don’t worry. You’re here to teach while immersing yourself in an amazing and new culture, and if you try, you will absolutely leave Spain with a much greater level of Spanish than you had prior. Imagine looking back on this experience and realizing you never tried to immerse yourself more in the language; you don’t want to regret any aspect of this opportunity you’ve been given. Use your time wisely, have fun, and it will pay off!
To assist you in getting out there and speaking, here are some recommendations on helping you learn the language both online and upon arrival.
Duolingo
Duolingo is a fantastic app and website (did I mention it’s free!?) to help you learn languages. You can choose from donzens of languages, but we’re talking about Spanish here. This app separates lessons into categories: foods, animals, expressions, common phrases, future tense, etc. It is very hands on and you’ll start learning words and phrases straight away!
YouTube
There are so many YouTube videos to help you learn Spanish. Senor Jordan and The Spanish Dude are two great resources for learning words and verb tenses in a fun and creative way.
Podcasts
I’ve just recently gotten into using Podcasts for learning languages and I’m never looking back! You can use these anywhere! I listen to them when I’m walking to and from work everyday or even when I’m just lounging or cooking at home. Duolingo has a number of Spanish podcasts available and they aren’t intimidating because an English speaker frequently chimes in and helps explain everything you’re hearing. Another useful Podcast is Coffee Break English and it’s perfect for absolute beginners to learn essential words and phrases, but the more episodes you listen to, the more advanced it becomes. It’s fantastic!
On arrival, join language exchanges / intercambios
Join a lanuage exhange to help you learn the language! You can find tons of information about these online. For example, in Barcelona we have a Facebook group called “Intercambio Idiomas Barcelona” and every week there are new meet ups where you can practice your Spanish skills in a relaxed setting like a bar or cafe. MeetUp.com also has a number of groups for language exchanges throughout Spain.
Befriend Spaniards
Make friends with Spaniards and as you’ll have someone you can freely practice with, with little intimidation. Just don’t only befriend them to practice your Spanish because they might stop talking to you. 😉
Get a private tutor!
If you’re seriously about learning the language and want to invest money into it, get a tutor or join a class! I currently have a private tutor and it has helped me immensely with gaining confidence in having conversations, working on my accent, and learning unfamiliar words and phrases. My tutor is so patient and understanding with me and I feel like it’s paying off.
Live with a host family or Spanish speakers
Having someone you know you can only speak Spanish with will help you immensely, so why not live with a host family or at least Spanish speakers? You’ll be fully immersed, and it will force you out of your comfort zone but your future self with thank you for it because you’ll not only have a newfound family in Spain, but you’ll be speaking Spanish in no time!
Now go conquer Spanish! ¡Buena suerte! 🙂
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