Do people in Oviedo, Spain speak English?

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Kate J

People in Spain mostly speak SPANISH. Kinda the point, doncha think?

Also, kinda the point of your going there in the first place, isn't it?

You won't be lost. Millions of people go traveling to countries where their native tongue is not widely spoken...every year! And they manage to come back, not only none the worse for wear, but much better off!

That said, Oviedo is a University town, and there are many exchanges there with the US (and probably Britain, as well). There will be a director for your program, who should be completely bilingual...and there will be people there with various amounts of skill in English.

And you will do best to avoid them as much as possible, as I'm sure, your purpose in going is to become fluent.

Una Sirena en el Lago Oscuro

I can understand your fears, but trust me, people will be delighted if you attempt to speak as much Spanish as you can. You probably just need to work on your confidence in your Spanish. I'm sure that there are professors at your university that can are bilingual.

However, part of the fun of studying abroad is to improve your Spanish. I went to Mexico all alone as an exchange student, and although I knew Spanish I wasn't confident because I'd never been immersed in it. If you are totally lost, there's nothing wrong with seeking help, but you should try to speak the language.

People aren't going to laugh at you because you make a mistake in Spanish. I knew a lot of friends who hadn't had as much Spanish, but studied abroad in Mexico. When they made an attempt at speaking Spanish, most Mexicans were friendly and wanted to help them. I imagine a lot of Spanish people are the same way... but you have to try.

Study the grammar and vocabulary, but work on your Spanish in other ways: Watch movies with Spanish voicovers, practice Spanish with friends, listen to Latin music.

Oh, and... the Yahoo! Answers message board... in Spanish! Click on the Mexican flag icon, or the Spanish or Argentina flag icon, under the "answers internacional" caption. I answer more questions on the Spanish language boards than I do in English.

When you study abroad, make Spanish friends. Not just so you can talk to them in Spanish, but because studying abroad means international cooperation and making friends in the host country. Don't spend ALL your time with the "gringos." (I realize they don't say "gringo" over there but I cna't think of the Spanish equivalent)

PaoloPH

First of all, congratulations on your upcoming opportunity to study in Oviedo. It will be an experience you will never forget.

You will find some English-speaking people to help when you are really in a bind, so no worries about that. However, I suggest that you try to immerse yourself in the local culture and speak Spanish as much as possible.

I studied in Madrid ~25 years ago, I hope your experience will be as incredible as mine was!
Good Luck!

Manuel

Hi! I am writting you from Madrid.(AlcalÃ¡ de Henares)

Yes, there are a lot of people who speak a little English in Spain.

Here you will find the best way to practice your Spanish or simply to visit Spain.

http://spainlive.iespana.es/

www.edreams.es to find tickets really cheap and If you are going to take a train www.estacionesdetrenes.com.

Check it out.

Chopper Read

There may be some professors at your uni that can speak english but you will find that the majority of the people in Oviedo cant speak english

Pikachu

Of Course they all (profs) and ppl speak english
Good luck!

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