Expat Land
Dec 31st 2010, 1:18 pm
#31
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Joined: Aug 2008
Location: On Top of the World
Posts: 17,507
Re: Expat Land
Do they?
We knew a few Spanish people in London and they all spoke fluent English, had jobs with British companies and had many British friends.
How many British people can say that in Spain?
There are only around 50,000-100,000 Spanish people in the UK though compared to the official 300,000 British (and unofficially 1 million) in Spain
We knew a few Spanish people in London and they all spoke fluent English, had jobs with British companies and had many British friends.
How many British people can say that in Spain?
There are only around 50,000-100,000 Spanish people in the UK though compared to the official 300,000 British (and unofficially 1 million) in Spain
I would doubt very much that it's as easy for a Brit fluent in Spanish to walk into a Spanish company job, as visa versa.
Dec 31st 2010, 1:19 pm
#32
Not Banned (yet)
Joined: Aug 2008
Location: Madrid
Posts: 6,400
Re: Expat Land
For me, it is because the British quite deliberately set out to distance themselves from other nationalities. Hence why they dont speak Spanish and there are British schools, shops and restaurants.
The difference is the Chinese, Morrocans or Romains DO speak Spanish and the businesses they set up are aimed at the whole population, not just other people from their countries.
The difference is the Chinese, Morrocans or Romains DO speak Spanish and the businesses they set up are aimed at the whole population, not just other people from their countries.
Plus, a lot of Brits are elderly and have bought up retirement places. It's normally a lot harder to learn a foreign language as you get older. The Rumanian, Morrocan migrants tend to be younger and needing Spanish to get work.. but yes, I'd imagine it'd be very difficult to meet a young adult Rumanian or Moroccan in Spain who didn't speak Spanish.
Dec 31st 2010, 1:23 pm
#33
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Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Spain 4th feb 08 - October 11, now flits batck and forth from sunny Worthing
Posts: 1,576
Re: Expat Land
For me, it is because the British quite deliberately set out to distance themselves from other nationalities. Hence why they dont speak Spanish and there are British schools, shops and restaurants.
The difference is the Chinese, Morrocans or Romains DO speak Spanish and the businesses they set up are aimed at the whole population, not just other people from their countries.
The difference is the Chinese, Morrocans or Romains DO speak Spanish and the businesses they set up are aimed at the whole population, not just other people from their countries.
I guess I'm bored with this constant Brit Expat bashing, from Brit Expats lol!!!!!
Jo xx
Last edited by jojojojojo; Dec 31st 2010 at 1:25 pm.
Dec 31st 2010, 1:29 pm
#34
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,368
Re: Expat Land
The difference is the Chinese, Morrocans or Romains DO speak Spanish and the businesses they set up are aimed at the whole population, not just other people from their countries.
Last edited by agoreira; Dec 31st 2010 at 2:45 pm.
Dec 31st 2010, 1:33 pm
#35
On the road again.
Joined: Aug 2008
Location: On Top of the World
Posts: 17,507
Re: Expat Land
Thats not what the people I know or myself are like. Maybe those whose company you keep are simply shy and not able to learn spanish?? Or some of the original "pioneers??? In any case, anyone who has a keen business head on will aim to appeal to everyone, those who dont manage it, will have a rather limited customer base. In any case, it doesnt matter. Its all a big melting pot and eventually everyone mixes up and mingles. Its happened throughout history - even the english language is tainted from the various invasions and conquerers - going back as far as the roman and norman conquests! In the end, Spain has the appeal of their climate and their scenery and space, the country has benefited and so have the people who've holidayed or moved over.
I guess I'm bored with this constant Brit Expat bashing, from Brit Expats lol!!!!!
Jo xx
I guess I'm bored with this constant Brit Expat bashing, from Brit Expats lol!!!!!
Jo xx
Specialist Subject,....Expat Bashing.
Dec 31st 2010, 1:34 pm
#36
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 7,749
Re: Expat Land
I didnt take them for a number of reasons. I have heard this excuse so many times that Spanish companies wont take on British people, usually from people who have few qualifications and speak a low level of Spanish.
Spanish companies have no problems taking on foreigners. My OH works with Portuguese, Morocans, Romanians, Spaniards, French people, all sorts. Although not one British persion, she says its because British people never apply, probably because they never see the job adverts in the first place - placed in the Spanish media!
Oh and I should add that the only British people I have heard speak Spanish beyond a very basic level in the CDS went to the Spanish schools here. I would love to be proved wrong, but I have yet to meet all these fluent Spanish speakers jojojojo talks about. And I play in football leagues with lots of English teams in, noone speaks Spanish and most have been here for years!
Last edited by cricketman; Dec 31st 2010 at 1:38 pm.
Dec 31st 2010, 1:41 pm
#37
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Location: Living in a good place
Posts: 8,824
Re: Expat Land
I know a lot of British on the coast who speak spanish very well. Times have changed. There are now some 2nd and even 3rd generation British families and many have intermarried. Also many immigrant British are in their 60's and find it difficult to begin learning a new language, many of them may not have been very well educated in their own language.
My OH spent his first five years in Spain without picking up more than about 100 words. He decided to go to classes at marbella town hall (not that I am saying we were living there) and is now very fluent. If you don't need to work in Spain, have enough money to be self-sufficient then there is no incentive unless you have an interest in the language.
Just think if it wasn't for all those non-spanish speaking ex-pats all the other ex-pats wouldn't have earned lots of money out of them!
My OH spent his first five years in Spain without picking up more than about 100 words. He decided to go to classes at marbella town hall (not that I am saying we were living there
) and is now very fluent. If you don't need to work in Spain, have enough money to be self-sufficient then there is no incentive unless you have an interest in the language.Just think if it wasn't for all those non-spanish speaking ex-pats all the other ex-pats wouldn't have earned lots of money out of them!
Dec 31st 2010, 1:42 pm
#38
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Posts: 17,507
Re: Expat Land
It is harder for everyone to get a job in Spain because the unemployment rate is higher. However, I have been offered 2 very good jobs from Spanish companies over the past few years, paying a good salary (35k euros and upwards).
I didnt take them for a number of reasons. I have heard this excuse so many times that Spanish companies wont take on British people, usually from people who have few qualifications and speak a low level of Spanish.
Spanish companies have no problems taking on foreigners. My OH works with Portuguese, Morocans, Romanians, Spaniards, French people, all sorts. Although not one British persion, she says its because British people never apply, probably because they never see the job adverts in the first place - placed in the Spanish media!
I didnt take them for a number of reasons. I have heard this excuse so many times that Spanish companies wont take on British people, usually from people who have few qualifications and speak a low level of Spanish.
Spanish companies have no problems taking on foreigners. My OH works with Portuguese, Morocans, Romanians, Spaniards, French people, all sorts. Although not one British persion, she says its because British people never apply, probably because they never see the job adverts in the first place - placed in the Spanish media!
However for the less cushy jobs,obviously any nationality will do,providing their wage demands are not too high.
Dec 31st 2010, 1:53 pm
#39
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 7,749
Re: Expat Land
I think it's fairly common knowledge that being in the know with the right ppl is a much more important and somewhat unfair qualification requirement for a decent job, than in the UK.
However for the less cushy jobs,obviously any nationality will do,providing their wage demands are not too high.
However for the less cushy jobs,obviously any nationality will do,providing their wage demands are not too high.
For example, in Malaga, a company my OH works for ask, they advertised for a job where you needed a degree and masters in languages, fluency in at least four languages, at least 5 years experience with 3 at management level, for a 25k euro salary. They received over 100 CVs, not one was from a British person.
Dec 31st 2010, 2:03 pm
#40
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Location: Spain 4th feb 08 - October 11, now flits batck and forth from sunny Worthing
Posts: 1,576
Re: Expat Land
Knowing the right people is important, but what British people lack are the qualifications. You need a degree for almost any level of job in Spain that isnt basic manual work. Those kind of British people stay in the UK and London in particular as wages are higher there.
For example, in Malaga, a company my OH works for ask, they advertised for a job where you needed a degree and masters in languages, fluency in at least four languages, at least 5 years experience with 3 at management level, for a 25k euro salary. They received over 100 CVs, not one was from a British person.
For example, in Malaga, a company my OH works for ask, they advertised for a job where you needed a degree and masters in languages, fluency in at least four languages, at least 5 years experience with 3 at management level, for a 25k euro salary. They received over 100 CVs, not one was from a British person.
Jo xxx
Dec 31st 2010, 2:20 pm
#42
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Re: Expat Land
Why would a spanish company want to employ anyone not fluent in spanish. Same for any country
You could not even conduct an interview with them!
You could not even conduct an interview with them!
Dec 31st 2010, 2:24 pm
#43
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Re: Expat Land
Exactly. The point is that there are pretty good jobs out there (a 25k job in Malaga isnt to be sniffed at) but British people who live in Spain do not apply for them because they are not able to compete in the job market.
Mainly this is down to their language skills and other qualifications.
Mainly this is down to their language skills and other qualifications.
Dec 31st 2010, 3:17 pm
#44
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Location: Valencia
Posts: 1,164
Re: Expat Land
Exactly. The point is that there are pretty good jobs out there (a 25k job in Malaga isnt to be sniffed at) but British people who live in Spain do not apply for them because they are not able to compete in the job market. Mainly this is down to their language skills and other qualifications.
Any Brit worth his or her salt with 5 years management experience and fluent in 4 languages would already be working elsewhere for 3 or 4 times that salary.
Dec 31st 2010, 3:24 pm
#45
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Joined: Feb 2008
Location: Vejer de la Fra., Cadiz
Posts: 7,653
Re: Expat Land
For me, it is because the British quite deliberately set out to distance themselves from other nationalities. Hence why they dont speak Spanish and there are British schools, shops and restaurants.
The difference is the Chinese, Morrocans or Romains DO speak Spanish and the businesses they set up are aimed at the whole population, not just other people from their countries.
The difference is the Chinese, Morrocans or Romains DO speak Spanish and the businesses they set up are aimed at the whole population, not just other people from their countries.
Insomuch as 'expat land' is a theoretical construct, it is populated by the stereotypical brit who has no interest whatsoever in learning Spanish or integrating at all. I've known people here who have lived out in the campo with no english neighbours, and who, after 7 or 8 years couldn't speak a damn word of Spanish.
Oh yeah, I don't care if everyone and his wife wears socks with sandals, it still looks terrible.