Do I Need to Learn Spanish for Mexico?

Published March 21, 2022

This is a very common question, and it is typically driven by concerns of awkwardness and inadequacy. So let’s answer that question right now so we can get to the question I suggest you really should be asking. No, you do not need to speak Spanish to visit or even live in Mexico, particularly in the locations more commonly frequented by tourists.

Is It Rude Not To?
I am not going to get into shaming Americans for being somewhat arrogant and culturally myopic by not understanding the importance of at least attempting to speak the language of the country they are visiting. On the other hand, Mexicans are often pretty well educated, and that education, for at least the younger set, often includes English. You can also get by with phrasebooks and amazing smartphone apps like Google Translate (more on the in a bit) and the occasional pantomime.

That said, I suggest the question you should be asking is, and this is really at the root of most of our decisions (i.e., what is in it for me?); how would I benefit from learning Spanish and, to use a common phrase that sums it all up, “is the juice worth the squeeze?”

Considerations
Here are some considerations:

♦  You will feel more comfortable exploring if you have some language skills (travel more, more diverse restaurants and cafes, museums, things of everyday life like going to concerts, plays and so on).

♦  You will feel more connected, and a part of all that is going on around you.
Spanish is the world’s second most common language, so it will unlock a tremendous number of options and opportunities; in fact, over 20% of the US population is Spanish speaking

♦  You will have the opportunity to make new friends in another language.
Learning and speaking multiple languages is one of the best ways to exercise and maintain a healthy brain. A very important benefit as we get older.

♦  That song you like so much: well, you will finally know what that song is about.

♦  Spanish is the gateway to all the other Romance languages like Portuguese, Italian, French, and even Romanian.

♦  Learning another language will help you better understand your native language, and you will also start to pick up the etymology of many words (English has adopted many words from other languages).

From my perspective, I think it is best summed up in the following quote:

“If culture is the house, then language is the key to the front door.”

Why go to another country and then isolate yourself in a bubble of other ex-pats and places you routinely go to because they present a low risk of any functional language barrier? Sure, there many reasons to go to Mexico, such as the food, lifestyle, architecture, and cost of living, but you will ultimately have a richer, fuller, more complete, and satisfying experience by far if you speak the language.

This is not to say that you need to enroll in 4 semesters of Spanish at your local community college before going to Mexico. Everyone needs to find their own way. A common approach is to learn a little Spanish before going (classes, online courses, YouTube, smartphone apps, a private tutor). For those that are choosing to live in Mexico, it is not uncommon to either enroll in a language school there or engage a private tutor.

How to Get Started
Again, do not let language be a barrier. You can get by with little or no Spanish and have a wonderful time in Mexico with just a few words and phrases like “Dos cervezas más, por favor.” Almost everyone will eventually want two more beers.

Here is a list of apps for you to consider, and there are many, many more:

Pimsleur
+Babbel
Mondly
Lingoda
Yabla
Rosetta Stone
iTalki
Rype
Duolingo
Busuu
Rocket Languages
Preplay

Google Translate may be in a category all on its own because it is so versatile:

♦  You can type in a phrase and translate it to any one of over 100 languages.

♦  You can see, and for many languages, also here the translation

♦  You can translate documents and web pages

♦  You can use the camera and translate signs, documents, and menus as you look at them

♦  You can carry on a two-way conversation, and it will translate back and forth.

There are also many, many online courses. Here are just a few:

Duolingo
StudySpanish.com
EDX
Live Lingua
Lingalia
Coursera
Fluentu
Learn Practical Spanish Online
The Spanish Experiment
University of Texas
Alison

Conclusion
So, the bottom line is that you do not need to learn Spanish, but you may very well want to. Your decision will likely be affected by where and how long you are staying. It is not as hard as you might think, and there are so many options; there has to be one that suits your learning style. And lastly, not only will this open up a much more culturally fulfilling experience, it is also a very good exercise for your brain.