The language that the rest of the world refers to as ‘Spanish’ is known in Spain as ‘Castellano’. This is the country’s official language and is also used in other countries of the world as an official language, notably in South America. However, the residents of Spain also use a number of regional languages and there are four which have status as an official language of the country. Standard Spanish is a romance language which is spoken by more than 350 million people worldwide, making it the second most popular language in the world.

Euskara is the language used in the Basque country and is also used in parts of the French side of the Pyrenees. The language does not seem to have been influenced by other European languages and its origins are uncertain, although it is used on a regular basis by more than half a million people living in the Basque region and there are several individual dialects. The main one of these is known as Batua and this is used for teaching in schools. The second regional language used is called ‘Galego’ and is used in the region of Galicia in the north-west part of the country. This language is used regularly by more than 3 million people in the area. It is thought that Galego has been influenced by Portuguese and some scholars consider it to be a dialect of the Portuguese language.

Catalan is the regional language used in Catalonia and it is estimated that around 10 million people are able to use this language. This is the official language of Andorra and is also spoken in the Balearic Islands and even in an Italian city. This is the language which was used for trading in Spain until the 15th century, which helped to consolidate its position. Valencia is the language used in the region of the same name and is often considered to be a dialect of Catalan.

English usage is very common, although mainly in busy urban or tourist areas. The large number of English people living now in areas such as the Costa del Sol means that English is being used more and more. Spanish is the main business language though, so those who are moving to Spain for work need to have a good knowledge of the language. Those who are not planning on working in Spain will probably be able to get by without a great deal of Spanish knowledge, but in rural areas it may be hard to find other English speakers.

There are language schools in many areas of Spain and each of the main cities has several to choose from. They offer a range of courses from private tuition to intensive classes and in some areas there are private tutors who are able to tailor lessons to the needs of expats. There are courses which are specifically designed for those who are planning to spend several years living in Spain. Spanish is considered to be fairly easy to learn, particularly for those who are already living there and get the opportunity to practise.

Many programmes on Spanish television which originate in the UK or the US are dubbed into the Spanish language or are subtitled, although it is possible to receive English language television in Spain via satellite and cable, and many expats choose to do this.

In urban areas the people who are able to speak English are mixed, with both old and young having these skills. In rural areas it may be that it is the younger generation who are able to use the language a little more, having learned some at school. English is taught to children from a young age in some areas.

There are many expats who choose to use their English language skills for earning money. English language teachers can often find work at one of the international schools, language schools or as a private tutor. Translation services in urban areas are also in demand, although this also requires excellent Spanish skills too.

Useful Resources

Cervantes Language School
www.cervantes.to
Tel: +34 952 295 378

Elemadrid
www.elemadrid.com
Tel: +34 914 324 540

Zador Spain
www.zadorspain.com
Tel: 0034 965 142 371
Email: Alicante@zadorspain.com