Learning a new language after moving to Spain

Moving to Spain from the UK will force you into several cultural and lifestyle changes. The warmer climates will give you a healthy tan all year round and sooth away the stresses of everyday English life, but the attitudes and priorities are different, and it will takes some time to adjust and adapt to your new lifestyle.

Despite Europe’s unified political interests and the introduction of the Euro currency, there have been no signs that a unifying language is going to be adopted, and most European countries have resolutely held onto their own languages in an attempt to retain their identities. Although most Europeans can claim to speak some English, the same can not be said for the British, who are less linguistic than some of their neighbours. After moving to Spain, it will be in your best interest to begin learning the Spanish language.

Spanish is the fourth most widely spoken language in the world behind Mandarin, English and Hindu. It is also the second most spoken language in America. Learning the language just after moving to Spain would be a fantastic opportunity as you can practice it while you learn it and as you become invested in the cultures around you, your understanding and enjoyment of the area will improve. Once the language is learned and mastered, it will become invaluable because it will allow you to communicate with your surroundings in their own tongue.

Moving to Spain will also be a fantastic opportunity for children to become bi-lingual very quickly. Children find it much easier to pick up new languages and will become fluent very quickly as they socialise and attend school in a foreign language. They will immediately find ways to communicate with their peers and will begin to unconsciously develop the understanding and vocabulary to master the language.

In the modern business climate, bi-lingual people are far more appealing to employers. As businesses develop, they are always inclined to expand and move into new markets. If you work in customer service, a bi-lingual individual will be able to communicate with twice as many customers and a single linguist. It really is a huge advantage in the work place, even for jobs which don’t immediately require two languages because it will mark a candidate out and having the edge over others. Moving to Spain when a child is still young, will allow them to begin learning Spanish in a natural fashion, so that they won’t need to be taught it rigorously at school. They will pick it up naturally and use it regularly.

Learning the language spoken in the country of your new home is always worthwhile, not only so you can fit in and begin enjoying your new surroundings, but also, so that you can begin to really feel comfortable and welcome. Nothing will endear you to your neighbours more than a concerted effort to become and effective and communicative member of their society.

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