Yes, I am English and no, we can’t speak it. Why? We’re in Murcia… Spain!

The Erasmus Year Abroad, the chance to immerse yourself into another culture, meet loads of people from all other the world, go out every night, and practice the language you are studying for your degree. Well… nearly.

Being from England abroad

Being a Brit abroad, preferably not ‘banged up’ like those featured in the cheery TV series, does have its perks. Most places are cheaper to live, the food is always better than what we have to offer, and girls are apparently always interested in English boys (I don’t kiss and tell… or kiss for that matter). However, despite all these advantages, apart from maybe the girl thing, there is one thing about being English in a foreign country that, to borrow the eloquent words of Peter Griffin, really ‘grinds my gears’.

Everyone wants to speak English

Being the universal language that English is, almost everyone in Europe can speak it, even if it’s just a word or two. What’s more, the majority of those that can indeed speak it often have a burning desire to improve and learn even more. This is where the problem arises. I have nothing against the fact they want to learn English, if anything I admire the passion these people have for it, it’s almost flattering in a way. But what I do have a problem with is the people that can’t quite seem to grasp what studying abroad actually means.

If we are going to get technical about why I am actually here, in my case Spain, it is to practice Spanish. However, due to my fumbling of the odd Spanish word as well as this insatiable desire to speak English to an English native, more often than not you find yourself speaking the language, that being a native and all, you’re already pretty good at.

As I said, I don’t have any problem with people wanting to practice and improve their English, in fact I would be more than happy to help… just come to England to do it. I have plunged myself into a foreign country, surrounded myself with a place and people I don’t know, all for the purpose of getting better at Spanish. Yes, speaking English a few times during the first few weeks may help ease us Brits in to a new country, make us feel at home, but after these first few weeks, I think I speak for a lot of us when I say a bit of Spanish would be nice too.

To avoid coming across like the unreasonable, angry, boring English person many people think we are, I’m not saying that no one speaks to me in Spanish, far from it. However, as hard as it may be to believe, speaking Spanish in Spain is one of the most difficult things to do. There was one night out in particular, even after a successful pre drinks, all in Spanish, that proved just how challenging it can be.

I went out to BadulaKe, the most popular student club here in Murcia, and despite my confidence, and arguably my ability to speak the language flourishing whilst under the influence, I was unable to show off my famous drunken Spanish as not one single person answered me back in the language. Boy or girl, student or not, it didn't matter. Every time my exuberant dancing landed me in a conversation, no matter how good my Spanish sounded, as soon as formalities were exchanged and they found out I was English. That was it. I was defeated. And with the amount of people wanting to speak English outweighing those wanting to speak Spanish (which in truth was just me) I finally realized I was fighting a losing battle and in the Erasmus spirit of trying to make friends, and to avoid seeming like a stubborn Spanish fanatic, I gave in, reverting back to the English tongue that every one, to my disappointment, was so desperate to hear.

Speaking Spanish is possible

As I said though, this was very much an isolated incident, and most people have been more than happy to bear listening to my stuttering Spanish in order to help me improve. The purpose of this short article is not to vent anger, although you can argue I’ve done my fair share of venting, it’s for anyone feeling trapped by their English heritage to know that we've all felt the same way at some point or another.

But also, as for those that want to learn and improve their English, this article is also to help you, in a very ‘two birds, one stone’ sort of way. Not only will it be the best article you've ever read (modesty comes naturally to me) allowing you to pick up a few new words or maybe just get a feel for the language, but you might also start to realise how bombarding your English friends with requests to speak in their mother tongue might actually be making them feel.

Again, I’m not having a go at anyone, no matter how annoyed the title suggests I am, I just want people to remember one thing. Whether someone has come to Spain to study, or to work, or to do whatever, especially in terms of Erasmus, they have most likely come with the expectation, and hope, of speaking Spanish and improving their own.

When in Rome... do as the Romans do.

When in Spain... speak bloody Spanish! You won’t just be helping yourself.

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