If you are going to live overseas, you need to be able to communicate.  Your language skills don’t have to be high-level, but you want to have the ability to really interact with the locals about everyday matters. This is what differentiates you from the average tourist. Sign language doesn’t do the trick, and do not expect that everyone speaks English. On the contrary, most people in the world don’t. 

If you choose an area with a lot of expats, you may find that some limited services are available to you in English. However, if you choose a place that is not infiltrated by expats, you will need to have at least a basic level of language communication to be able to function, and that means more than “una cerveza, por favor.” How else will you deal with car and home repairs, an Internet connection that goes down, medical visits, and everyday interactions with your neighbors? Learning the language helps you feel both comfortable and confident. 

Does the thought of learning a language at this stage of your life overwhelm you?  It doesn’t have to.  Some research has shown that a motivated adult can learn a language as easily as a young person.  If the incentive and desire are there, and you have trained teachers in a small group or private setting, you too can learn.  This is true if you are starting from zero, or if you are trying to revive some of that high school Spanish buried deep in your subconscious. 

How long should I spend studying?  That depends entirely on you. Some people want to study intensively and choose to spend weeks or months at a Spanish school in this pursuit. Others choose to study for only a week or two, depending on time, finances, and/or
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Studying at a language school is an excellent way to accomplish two goals: learning the language, and getting acquainted with the culture of that particular area. Your best bet is to choose a small language school in an area that does not have a lot of tourists.  Why?  It’s simple. If you go to a language school in a high-volume tourist area, you will be one of many. Although you will learn some Spanish, you’ll be surrounded by other foreigners. This does not make for an authentic experience or an ideal learning situation.

If you study in an area where there is low tourist volume, you will be someone special. People will be happy when they see you trying to interact in their language and they’ll enjoy helping you out.  That’s how you make friends. That’s how you integrate. Without the language, it’s impossible. With lots of other tourists around, it’s not likely to happen. 

At a small language school, you have the opportunity to get close to your teachers. In the intimate environment of a small class, you get to know each other well through the communication that goes on as you practice speaking.  Your teachers will instruct you in the language, show you around the town, and you will probably end up meeting some of their friends and families. Through these contacts you learn about the language, the culture, and the area, and you can get a feel for whether this is a place where you might like to settle. 

Do I have to live with a host family?  Only if you want to. If you live with a host family, the connection to the community is even deeper.  But living in this type of situation is not for everyone.  Although it provides great opportunities for you to immerse yourself in the language and the culture, it does involve giving up a certain level of privacy and sometimes being flexible about your eating and food preferences. You need to be outgoing, even if you may not feel like it first thing in the morning.

What is important when learning Spanish?  First of all, the quality of your teachers must be topnotch. Just because a person is a native Spanish speaker does not mean he/she can teach the language. You may be a native English speaker, but that doesn’t mean you can teach English. Find out about the teachers at the school.  What kind of training do they have? 

Be sure the program has flexibility so that it will suit your needs. You don’t want to be just a number. Be clear about your objectives. You want to be sure the school has an approach that gives you lots of opportunity to speak.  Make sure the approach is a communicative one. You want to be able to communicate, not just conjugate verbs! 

You can’t study Spanish every minute of every day. Part of what you need to do is enjoy your new surroundings with activities that will give you the opportunity to listen and speak.  Look for a safe town or city that has fun and interesting activities available to you. Through these, you will have the chance to practice your Spanish in real-life situations.

Be patient! It takes motivation and practice to learn a language. The great thing is that you don’t have to be perfect right away. Your initial goal should be to be able to communicate.  Then you refine your ability so that you can communicate in a wide variety of situations. You do this by learning about the region and culture, exploring the area, getting to know people, and relaxing as you expand your ability to speak and understand Spanish.

We first made the transition from Stateside to “escapees” as Peace Corps volunteers fifteen years ago. Through the years, we’ve worked as professors at universities in Mexico, teaching Mexican students to be English teachers. We’re now running our own Spanish language school, Eco-Lingua Costa Maya, and can share with you the hard-earned lessons we’ve learned about living and adapting in another country, especially in the fields of communication and culture.

At Eco-Lingua Costa Maya, located in Chetumal, Mexico, on the Belize border, you have a tremendous opportunity to learn from university-trained teachers while you enjoy the eco-touristic attractions of this region.
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