Hi featherbum,
As long as the dominant language at home, in the community, and in the media is english (and in that order), IMO, your OH will continue to think in english.
Talk only in spanish at home (that means YOU! And, more than "carino, carino"), don't tell him when he makes any mistakes (bet you can understand each other anyway), and, when you return to Spain, start again.
From my own experience, if the OH at first doesn't want to speak in spanish, then relax! He might be self-conscious, or feeling shy. For certain, he'll be listening very carefully. Don't bring the shyness to his attention, or worse, to that of others in your conversation. That might lead to stubbornness and resentment.
Regards,
Carol

P.S. Here's an afterthought: Is "machismo" still alive and kicking? If the woman does all the talking, is that really ok? Possibly another thread starter...or not!

my OH is well aware of this, i made sure i taught him the difference!

Hi Carol,
thanks v much for your message, i found it v interesting!
Because i am guilty of pretty uch everything you just advised me NOT to do!

I do try and force him to speak, bring shyness up, correct him....
Gonna give your advice a good go, it makes sense. I guess the fact i keep correcting him must be making him feel self concious, and scared of, say, being laughed at!

As for the machismo bit, i do talk for him in shops, restaturants etc lol and didnt quite think about this fact, they must been thinking he suffers from extreme shyness lol! either that or that i wear the trousers haha!
But you are right the more i try to push him to talk the less he does.
So thanks again, and will give this new tactic a go!

Hola! featherbum,
How's it going?
Have you been arguing in spanish?
Good luck!
Regards,
Carol

hi, thanks for asking!
its going ok sloooooooowly, i have stopped correcting him (well most of the time ) and i think thats making things better so thanks again for the tip!
now i must speak to him in spanish more often as sometimes i am lazy cause its easier to be understood straigth away

at least he is happy to move back, which makes me a lucky girl! and hopefully he will learn faster once we are back in spain!

Withold conjugals until he's mastered the subjunctive!

THAT LONG?

Some guiris got to learn the hard way featherbum!

but...but....
what about ME?!

I'll PM you my number featherbum!

so you can do the subjunctive then?

ps- i am a nearly married woman with morals i'll have you know!!

Not only do you have morals I think that you have high standards too!!!!!!

Rosemary

You need to get on to the local college to put night school classes on in English, maybe get the council to change the signage to English (with Spanish sub-titles).
It's bloody inconsiderate of the bastards not to learn English properly -this is 2008 ffs they need to catch up.

In 5 or so years when I hope to be seriously looking for somewhere, if they're not at least at conversational level I'm off to Florida.