Re: Will it be like this for Brits visiting Spain post Brexit?
 

There's nothing I can do or say about your lack of aptitude, but I had no difficulty finding a very good job in Germany (this was in 1986). Really, it was more that they found me.

At the time, I had virtually no German language capability, but I managed, and eventually acquired fluency to a level where I gave lectures at Universities in German with no complaints (on either side).

One incident was fun: a very senior "Pope" in my academic field (ask a German what that means) got into an argument with another scientist. The Pope was wrong, but I intervened, speaking in German of course, and convinced him that, while he was wrong, he was right in another way, saving face for him.

He later offered that I take his job when he retired.

Different folks, different strokes.

Re: Will it be like this for Brits visiting Spain post Brexit?
 

Maybe they do but they have negotiated that outside of the EU as not EU members. Is that not what the UK is trying to do on leaving. I think that's what I said in final part of my post.

Re: Will it be like this for Brits visiting Spain post Brexit?
 

I have also managed to work successfully in Europe without prior knowledge of the local language.

Re: Will it be like this for Brits visiting Spain post Brexit?
 

Well done. At no time did I suspect that I was unique. Pulaski is an intelligent guy who has missed out on a great amount of life experience by sticking to English language countries. IMHO.

Re: Will it be like this for Brits visiting Spain post Brexit?
 

I don't think ones nationality has anything to do with the ability to learn another language. More to do with the individual's intelligence and willingness to learn. Or maybe it's the old British disease of apathy.
Unfortunately there are still too many Brits (and I am generalising) that think why bother "the foreigners can all speak English and if they can't just speak louder"

Re: Will it be like this for Brits visiting Spain post Brexit?
 

Although not representative I'm sure of most companies, my husband works in a company consisting (locally) of around 50% Spaniards. In the Netherlands. In IT. Most are too highly qualified (Masters, PhD) in their own fields (Maths, Physics) for the work they now do, but it's a start into a career that pays decently. There are enough Spaniards in the company where I work for them to have their own social/lunch groups. I think you could be underestimating what we see on the ground here.

Re: Will it be like this for Brits visiting Spain post Brexit?
 

How often do I have to repeat this, my point is about the tens of millions people who stay put, not the hundreds of thousands (in any one country) who move! .... I know as well as all of you who posted in this thread, that large numbers of people move internationally, and I am not disputing that, but the percentage of people who exercise their personal freedom of movement rights is small, very small.

Re: Will it be like this for Brits visiting Spain post Brexit?
 

To be fair, I also know some people who were born in a small village of 200 inhabitants, now 300 ;), have never moved out and will probably be buried there.
They do occasionally go to Holland (Putte :lol:) to buy the good Dutch cheese though. Even them enjoying FOM.
And I remember this village which is half Dutch half Belgian. We often crossed it before FOM and before Benelux and spent at least half an hour (during the week it might be much and much more) for custom checks.....
Trucks were parked all over the place and drivers running around with papers.

Re: Will it be like this for Brits visiting Spain post Brexit?
 

Every single citizen in the EU has the right to live and work in any other EU country. This is has no comparison in history.

If most or many didn't exercise that right then either they are happy where they are (I hope so) or are afraid or incapable of exercising that opportunity. One that the <snip> government is trying to take away,

Re: Will it be like this for Brits visiting Spain post Brexit?
 

As Pulaski points out, 99% do not exercise these rights.

Does this make the small number who do, "one percenters?"

Those of you who blast government policy that is advantageous for, and vigourously defends the interests of, "one percenters" - does this criticism also apply to this situation?

If not, why not?

The 99% of the population who are not interested in Free Movement need some other benefit to the European Union, other than that one-percenters who speak German can go live in Frankfurt.

Telling them that they, too, can go live in Frankfurt if only they would get off their duff and learn German, is incredibly tone-deaf.

Right now the entire "stay" campaigns across Europe are based around promoting a benefit to the one-percenters. Oh, and singing the virtues of the Euro, which is more of a millstone than a balloon and has a theoretical framework that has never before been successful, anywhere in the world. Never has there been a successful monetary union that did not also include a fiscal union.

Most of the posters on this thread - except for Pulaski - seem to be having a "let them eat cake" moment.

Re: Will it be like this for Brits visiting Spain post Brexit?
 

Why do you only concentrate on living and working ? FOM includes traveling as well and one has to assume it is more than 1 % who travels around within the EU.
As I mentioned earlier, traveling around was a lot more difficult before the EU (I know, having lived on the border seeing the queues every single day).

Re: Will it be like this for Brits visiting Spain post Brexit?
 

You are conflating FOM with the Schengen Agreement.

Re: Will it be like this for Brits visiting Spain post Brexit?
 

I live on a border between two EU countries and I see queues every day

Re: Will it be like this for Brits visiting Spain post Brexit?
 

Over 15 million, (3 %) living & working in other EU Countries.

Re: Will it be like this for Brits visiting Spain post Brexit?
 

Oups, yes, sorry