Moving to Spain

[jojo]

Originally Posted by Burriana Babs

You are right there jojo, they need to decide where in Spain they want to locate first. I know my preference is the Eastern Costa del Sol.

I agree, you're not too far from me Babs!!

[chris(madrid)]

Originally Posted by Goldberg

Hi you dont need to speak spanish to live in Spain.
.... English, that is all you need.

Sorry linguists, is true. If you make and bring money here, people will speak English for this is sure. If you want to integrate of course learn the language, it is polite and good for business too.

With all due respect - that's rubbish and REALLY bad advice.

Spain is not just the frilly edge bit - get into real central Spain and using English will leave you lost & hungry.

Learn CASTILLIAN - This is the Spanish that is SPOKEN (and taught) across ALL Spain in Spanish schools.

I can cite precise details where foreigners (Americans and Italians) thought they'd get away with English - This was HIGH Level Data processing and a MAJOR Spanish bank - FAILED - 8million USD contract lost.

[jojo]

Originally Posted by Goldberg

Hi you dont need to speak spanish to live in Spain.
Look at costa del sol, it is as much english as spanish.
Same in parts of costa blanca.

If you do learn spanish which spanish language. Castellon, Valencian, Basque, Catalan, each has its own language. English, that is all you need.

Sorry linguists, is true. If you make and bring money here, people will speak English for this is sure. If you want to integrate of course learn the language, it is polite and good for business too.

Personally, if I wanted to speak english I'd have gone to an english speaking country. I didnt like it when immigrants came to the UK and didnt try to intergrate by learning the language - i thought it was extremely rude and arrogant. I wonder if the spanish feel the same??

Jo

[chris(madrid)]

Originally Posted by jojo

I didnt like it when immigrants came to the UK and didnt try to intergrate by learning the language - i thought it was extremely rude and arrogant. I wonder if the spanish feel the same?? Jo

I agree, Jo - and yes THEY DO. ime they are however more tolerant of it than than native English Speakers. But I see comm's frustration DAILY in the Town Hall I work at.

I've had to live and work in Germany and Spain - dealing with fortune 100 multinationals. You want to do business you'd better learn the local lingo even if the folk you're dealing with can speak English (often extremely well). Only once has my being a non-national worked in my favour - but because the customer was arrogant beyond belief and would not talk to anybody who was not US/UK.

Very rarely now will an Expat have skills unavailable locally. 15-20 years ago it was not always the case.

Doing business here (Spain) ime depends on you building a relationship with the other person. Often hard to do but long lasting if you're successful. This matters so much that it can infuriate companies who believe that the deal matters more than the relationship.

I know (first hand) folk that are just not prepared to do this - and accept they cannot deal within Spain. And no - if they cant be bothered I'm not going to do it for them. Others are prepared to and so the price goes up as they want their pound of flesh. Often kills the deal stone dead.