Thread: Problems with not being able to speak Spanish in Tenerife?

Hi stranges

I don't know whether I have been lucky or not but so far I've managed to get by with hand gestures and the fact that most of the spanish people I've had interactions with have spoken a small amount of english. Just remember that you are not the only one that has moved to Tenerife that can't speak spanish and the people you will need to speak to have probably had to meet hundreds like yourself. I really wouldn't worry about it too much but it will help a great deal if you can learn if only the basics of spanish. If you are really worried you could always hire someone who speaks fluent english and spanish to help you with all the nessecary paper work.

Good luck!

Awww, you're welcome stranges It was a bit daunting for me when I first moved over but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Your first step will be to apply for your NIE and the form and the translation are both already on this forum to help you on your way. If you get stuck with the further pieces of paperwork just pop on here and let us know. I'm sure one of us will be able to help you!

Where abouts in Tenerife are you moving too? When are you coming over?

It all depends where you are. In LA/LC there are loads of English, so the authorities tend to have someone that you can speak to. Once you get outside these resorts to the villages they don't tend to.

TBH, I don't blame the Spanish if they choose not to speak English - the same argument is going on in the UK regarding the Asians and East Europeans that live there. People are becoming less tolerant with immigrants that won't try and fit in to the society they've chosen to join. We are immigrants here, so really we should make an effort to learn the basics. Even if we do live in an all English community!

You should be fine. If you make a small effort to learn the basics before you come and try and use it. Even if you don't know, if you at least try you will gain the respect of the locals.

Originally Posted by makum101

If the Spanish who CAN speak English but choose not to then its wrong... Imagine employing someone in the UK DSS office because they can speak Bangladeshi and finding they refuse to do so. That's racism!

Very true if they can speak English and refuse to do so - especially in tourist areas where it is dependant on giving a good impression of the 'hospitality' of the resorts to the visitors in order to ensure a growing industry, however your second point about the DSS office - although true, I believe is silly (not your point, the system!) The UK is going overboard with it's PC legistlation. In my personal opinion, any person who chooses to live in another country should learn the language. In the UK and abroad. If someone goes to the DSS and cannot speak English in the UK, I don't see why the people who work there should have to speak their language. The same goes for anyone choosing to emigrate. When I went to greece, I learnt Greek. When I travelled through France, I learnt French and when I was in Italy, I spoke Italian. I do not expect natives to have to speak my language and I don't expect to speak other languages when I'm in England.

The PC policies of the UK Government have only caused more harm than good. They have alienated otherwise decent and tolerant people and in extreme cases, those people have even started supporting the scum that is the British National Party.

Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with people of any origin colour or religion living in the UK - I don't live there, so anyone is quite welcome to have my place - in fact the world would be a much better place if we were all more tolerant towards each other... but if you choose to live somewhere else, you should be prepared to change some aspects of your life to get by in that place. I think the first part of this is by at least trying to adopt some of the language - as much as you can manage! People respect you for trying.

Originally Posted by makum101

Many of the official establishments (north and south) employ Spanish residents who can speak other languages for this purpose. The Spanish are not stupid, and believe me they realise that over 80% of the Canarian gross national product is created by foreign revenue. over 40% of tenerife home owners are British. therefore they would have to be fools not to employ staff that speak the language.

I hope you're right on this point, as sometimes it seems that the Canarian government are shooting themselves in the foot with some of the laws they bring in! One thing I do like, however, is the fact that you cannot claim on the social unless you have worked and given enough contributions to do so. I think the British government should take a leaf out of their book. I've never claimed dole in the UK and it sickens me when people do it because they can't be bothered to get a job. If they have reasonable grounds, then fair enough. But don't take cash away from those that really need it. This is why I think it is so important for British workers in Spain to make sure they know their rights and get a contract - and it seems that the Foreign employers are the worst abusers of the system trying to employ people without contracts or on minimal contract. The only person that loses out is the worker and they're the ones that keep the business running! If you have good workers you should respect them and treat them well. They will then work harder for you and your business... only a good thing really.

Originally Posted by makum101

Originally Posted by djkirstyjay

People are becoming less tolerant with immigrants that won't try and fit in to the society they've chosen to join

Yes this applies mainly when there is a wide difference in culture. Western Europeans are tolerant of each other, were mostly of christian faith, we mostly dress in a similar fashion and most importantly we are all calssed as EU members, equals and NOT immigrants in each other countries.

Isn't if funny how people can be tollerant towards people who 'look' similar to themselves, but have irrational hatred to people with different customs or skin colour... My gran is a prime example of this. She is of that age and was brought up in a UK without black people or asians. She can be quite vocal about these 'immigrants' (some who have been born in the UK and lived there all their lives) however she doesn't have the same views when it comes to Eastern European refugees that are also claiming welfare. I've just learnt to switch off, otherwise I end up getting really angry and to be honest, she will never change her views as I won't mine.

Originally Posted by makum101

Originally Posted by djkirstyjay

We are immigrants here

Wrong. We need no entry visa's. As EU citizens we are free to travel throughout and live anywhere within the EU boundaries - Without discrimination.

Ok... we may not actually be immigrants in that sense, however the locals in my village consider us as immigrants and as such, we try and conform to their way of doing things. I think this all depends on how much you want to integrate. My boyfriend and I intend to live in Tenerife neé Chio for the rest of our lives, and as such we have given our children Spanish names, sending them to Spanish school and celebrating christmas on the 6th January. For us it would be difficult to explain to them why they get all their prezzies on the 26th and all their friends get theirs on the 6th...! If you don't consider Tenerife your 'home' in the same sense, you might be inclined to integrate less and socialise more with people from your own native country.

Incidentally, there is a lot of intollerance towards immigrants in the Canaries in the smaller villages. On the wall by our bus stop is some grafitti which says in large red letters, "Morros No! Fuera de Chio!" (No Morrocans! Get out of Chio! for those who don't know Spanish). This disturbs me as much as the race intollerance in the UK.

Originally Posted by makum101

Of course we should try to learn the local language - wherever we are. however English speakers the world over will notice that if you attempt to talk to local's in their own language they reply in English? this is not to be polite its because English is the most wildly spoken language in the world and most people who's native tongue is not English like to practice this "international" language at every opportunity. Ever noticed that Germans here in Spain converse with their Spanish counterparts in English?

Too true. This irritates me a little, as I am trying to practise my Spanish too! (however it doesn't happen where I live! The people in the local shop hardly spke to me when I first moved in.)
Spanish is an International language too. Spoken in 9 countries in South America, 7 countries in Central America, Mexico and the Islands of Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. That's one of the reasons why I want to become fluent in it!

Originally Posted by makum101

To sum up, yes you will come across the odd (and i mean rarely) instance of an official not speaking English, but on the whole there will always be someone around to help you in the translation.

Fair enough, though you have to admit that the further you get away from the main resorts, the less likely this is.

Funnily enough, I was half expecting a reply to my post from you, Makum. I quite enjoy reading your intellectual reasoning... and the subject, I think, is close to your heart.

This topic's getting a bit political now, isn't it!