Anybody got that goddam subjunctive cartoon handy?

I don't imagine living in United Kingdom and not to know nor drop of english. I believe that to know something more (in this case, a language) makes you a superior step to the other, because allows to understand the other culture, to have friends of the other language, to be able to opt for another work, to be able to leave and to know the country...Are many things. I already tell you that I don't imagine living in your country without knowing how to speak English, I believe that it would be a very insipid life

Well
we have to constantly try to speak Spanish there are only 10 or so forigners in our village of 10.000 so if we didnt try to understand the language we would have no friends. I can hold a conversation and understand a lot more that I can say. but I am looking forward to the classes as I know that learning together will speed up my aim to be fluent.
I was a teacher in the UK, I will add an art teacher, before some one tells me about my spelling and grammer, I did teach for a number of years both GCSE, AS and A level and I lectured in Uni. So if they need to be kept on the straight and narrow I will apply my teachers voice to the class............as my OH calls it.
Sharon

I think on the whole you say how I feel, I would never ever go to a country with an attiude like the English do in Spain, for me thats becuase mainly I am motivated by money and I would be without money in Spain without the Langauge.

Little things like Ryanair, I can get away with not paying for extra baggage, I get free priortiy tickets, In Spain I get treated so much better in restaurants, bar's, shops just by being cheeky with the language, you have to try, my life is revolved around fine negotiation, and I find Spain is the place where you can barter well in any situation, unless of course they have allready made their mind up, then your stuffed.

The view from a Teacher is different to many, Its possible I could do a intensive course on Spanish which im cosindering to finalise my needs, but classes in general for me is not a way of learning, its different for many people, some need Class'es and discipline, some can just get on with it better wihout.

I would never advise classes as a good way to learn anything, especially if you try to learn in the UK before you come, it will be a complete waste

Here! Here! I agree learning the language is a must out of pure courtesy if nothing else. My parents have lived in Spain almost 5 years - well i say Spain its a golf complex so really its Britain in SPAIN - and like every typical brit abroad that repulses me ( I JUST KNOW I WILL GET SLATED FOR THIS PROBABLY SENT TO COVENTRY OR DENOUNCED!!!) they dont speak Spanish they just talk SLOWER, LOUDER and do exaggerated hand motions and shake their heads in disbelief when they are not understood, "THEY ARE SPANISH NOT DEAF & DUMB"

It really infuriates me, ok they are older, ok they dont learn as quick then move to the Isle of Man or Australia dont go to a foreign country and expect everyone to speak ENGLISH!!! Did we rush out to learn URDU when we were invaded!!!! NO! so at least learn the language or pay for an interpreter...

OUCH!!!! ....Ok who kick my soap box away?

I wanted to be as forceful as that, but thought id get slated and have before, It is one massive thing that bug's me but I accept english people's attitudes even if I dont agree with them.

The way I see it is at the end of the day most are going for a better life in Spain

Some of the people I know there (well off or not) - well I know my life will be so much better than the life they currently have knowing the language or at least trying. I see can see from many post's here people who have so many problems, be it internet problem, bus timetables :curse: or where do I get a a certain type of fish !!! Those problems would be gone with out a language barrier.

I was waiting for someone to bite but Im happy to read your post

Well I agree on the language front, although I do struggle I am managing to make myself understood in basic Spanish ...... just cant understand what people say back to me yet

However I do have to say that some people want to come over here, live in their own cocoon and go down the local bar. Not my view of life in Spain, but I have to say live and let live .... if thats what pushes their buttons then as long as they dont effect my life then good luck to them. I'm a great believer that the Spanish will see me for what I am (leave off Xtreme). I try to speak the language and I do my best to respect the Spanish culture.

I did find myself speaking Spanish to a german in the local pool shop earlier today though and that ended in total confusion

Unfortunately, it would be a very lonely life to a point. You will get girls all over you because of your accent, you will get lads jealous of you because your different and educated, I should be proud of my roots in the UK but I AM NOT.

I would scream DONT GO, Spain is far nicer, more pleasant, I wish i had moved here years ago & brought up our children here. It is so refreshing to see little girls of 12 still wearing frills, boys at 12 still playing out with friends, back in the UK if you can tear them away from the TV or mobile phone they maybe infront of the latest XBOX or similar worse case senario is your 12/13yr old daughter is sleeping with the 18yr old down the street after getting drunk on alcopops or your 12/13yr old son is scoring drugs.

Of course there are exceptions and there still are some really beautiful places left in England, there are still some nice people left in England but i doubt very much if they will speak Spanish to make you feel comfortable. They dont learn the language when they move here!!!

On the news tonight in the UK 2 x 14yr old boys were sentences to 12yrs each for an unprovoked attack on a blind disabled man, who later died, amongst his injuries were 11 broken ribs, the chances are they may serve half their sentence, then they are free to walk amongst us that cant be right?

I DONT LIKE THE UK

Karmen, if you want to do a search on crime in the Costas I feel you will find many bad things also

The UK is a beautiful country, often spoiled by the few for the majority. Having just been back there for a month it makes me appreciate the wonderful countryside and village life.

Well I'm new at this maybe i will get away with being opinionated, maybe i will be thrown off or maybe, just maybe we have found a little corner where you CAN speak your mind and get things off your chest, Or maybe i will learn to keep quiet....

....NAH dont think that will happen!!!

Well I agree on the language front, although I do struggle I am managing to make myself understood in basic Spanish ...... just cant understand what people say back to me yet

Is hard to get that bit sorted, I learned phrases instead of individual words, if you can pick 2 or 3 words out of a a 5 / 6 word sentance, then you start to get the Gist of it

I can read it ...... no problem!! Listening is a whole new skill

I meant when people talk to you, not reading sorry, I do find the spanish beat around the bush somewhat to say something simple, bu that could be said of any language, rather than learn one indivdual words, try learning a whole sentance, say I say

seeyoulater backatseven instead of just trying to listen to that seperatley listen in one go, and if you pick out later and seven you will get it. thats how I worked out how to understand.

People say they speak so fast but I think in english you speak fast, you dont pause after every word, but you learn a sentance instead, hope it makes some sense

Hey that's great, you confused a German!!!LOL

Only joshing with you, you will get better with the language if you want to learn i feel once you have let down those 'god i'm gonna make a real fool of myself' barriers and just try, I was exactly the same when i got here. Wouldn't leave the cave house until i had looked up word for word what i wanted to say, practiced it several times, and put on my best Spanish accent. As soon as they replied 'Que' i crumbled ran from the shop and avoided contact with anyone for a week. Then stage 2: again write it down, practice intensely, enter the shop full of confidence, to a reply of 'Que', (well i expected the first one) repeated again slower (without the dodgy Fawlty Towers 'Manuel' accent) then the reply came 'como' each time getting quieter and quieter till once again i left the shop empty handed. (the upside was i lost nearly 2 stone last year) However I got friendly with a girl behind the bar at my local & I would sit in the corner & practice talking to her; eventually if she couldnt understand me, someone in the bar 'worked in Ibiza for a bit, once'. Eventually i was talking to most of the locals my confidence grew and i am proud to say i can hold a basic conversation, take my car to the garage, EAT AGAIN, and generally get on well with most of the people i meet, so although it took me 12months I am so glad i stuck at it, i try and learn a new word everyday.