By Kay Davis

No. Not at all, especially if you are visiting a popular tourist area. English is a required subject in Mexican schools, and many people are eager to practice their English with tourists. But they will be delighted if you attempt to communicate in Spanish, even just a word or two within a jumble of English.

For example, “I would like huevos y tocino, scrambled, por favor.” You just ordered bacon and eggs. Now, revueltos is scrambled, but that’s harder to say unless you know how. If you maintain a sense of humor, together you build a friendly relationship. And notice that, in resort areas, menus are usually in both English and Spanish. Try ordering from the Spanish side from time to time. It’s good practice and good manners. If you start traveling around Mexico, you’ll need to read some Spanish.            Another good idea is to buy a phrase book, or better, an electronic translator ($40 – $50) before making the trip. There is one at $550, but that’s not necessary unless you plan to become a globe trotter. That pricey little unit is multi-lingual.

Whether you prefer the simple phrase book or something digital, practice some simple phrases in Spanish. Buenos Dias. (Good morning.) Gracias. (Thank you.) Que tenga un buen dia. (Have a good day.) Carry the phrase book or pocket translator with you. Language can be a challenge or an adventure, but if you find ways to communicate, you’ll also have a few laughs with your hosts as well.

You can travel the entire country on English even though Mexico recognizes 68 indigenous languages besides Spanish. Having said “no, you don’t need Spanish” (and that’s true), the longer you choose to stay, the closer you come to the answer, “yes, you need to go beyond pocket conveniences”. You will need to speak Spanish better because life anywhere requires more than basic greetings.  Read More »

First post for the Lloyd real estate blog. This is where we add all our important blog posts