How Spain’s growing love of English can help homebuyers

Tourism, property and language have brought the Brits and Spanish closer together than ever before.

Ever since the credit crunch bit down hard on Spain’s economy in 2008, most industries in the country had to shrink in order to survive. However, one sector actually flourished during those mean, lean years, and it is a sector that could actually help Brits realise their dream of buying a property in Spain…

Which sector was that, you may ask? Construction? Actually, construction and the real estate industry are only now finding their feet after a difficult few years. In fact, it was Spaniards’ embrace of the English language that grew, and it looks like the lingual love affair has truly taken root.

According to a 2011 study by Education First, Spain used to be one of the worst countries in Europe at English proficiency, scoring a lowly 49.01 points out of 100, ranking only slightly better than Russia and Turkey.

But last year, Spain had gained ‘moderate proficiency’, reaching a score of 57.18 to leapfrog English proficiency levels found in France and Italy. The reason for this turnaround is simple: it’s the economy, stupid.

Or, as the report put it: “The level of English of the adult population of Spain has significantly improved in the last seven years, and it is the fourth-most improved European country when it comes to English proficiency.”

Learning English was – and still is – seen by many Spaniards as a sure-fire way to improve their job prospects both at home and abroad. “These days, English is a must for any Spanish CV,” Elaine Blaus, director of Cambridge English for Spain and Portugal, told The Local newspaper.

Data from the British Council confirms that the number of Spaniards sitting English language exams has risen sharply in the past seven years, with many Spaniards open to the idea of moving abroad for work. In fact, a recent study by Cambridge University Press found that 84 per cent of young Spaniards are confident that they will leave the country to work at some point in the future. That figure rises to 89 per cent among those armed with ‘good English’.

This all makes sense, of course. But as Spaniards become more and more confident with their English, the upshot for Brits is that the country becomes even more welcoming and easy to navigate than ever before. Culturally, the UK and Spain are strengthening ties thanks to the vast number of Spaniards that now live and work in Britain. This is leading to relationships blossoming and a change in attitudes, with both camps now more understanding, friendly and sympathetic than ever before.

For tourists, it means fewer language hassles when visiting Spain, while for homebuyers, it increases the chances that – should they themselves not yet speak Spanish – they may find themselves dealing with Spaniards who are confident to conduct transactions in English.

And then there are the social benefits, too. A more bilingual populace is naturally more accommodating, particularly towards those with whom they can converse confidently. For Brits, that means smoother daily  interactions and a lowering of some of the cultural and linguistic barriers that may have proved off-putting for some of the more nervous buyers.

Still, this should not mean that Brits thinking of moving to Spain or buying a Spanish property should not brush up on their Spanish – there are few things more guaranteed to bring a smile to a Spaniard’s face than a genuine attempt to make oneself understood in Spanish.