Advice for my language-challenged partner

[Float05]

I walked the CF last May as a solo peregrina and caught the bug. I’m going back this May/June and plan to take the Norte/Primitivo route. And I’m thrilled that my partner wants to come with me! We’re both excited, but he has one reservation: when we’ve travelled to Spanish speaking countries in the past (Mexico, Ecuador, Peru) we’ve been in areas with few English speakers, where I can communicate (conversational but not fluent) but he cannot. He really has tried to learn and it just doesn’t click.

We’ve heard there are fewer English speaking pilgrims on the Norte than the CF, so he’s worried he’ll feel isolated and miss out at communal dinners, etc. Of course we wouldn’t expect the majority to speak English, but if there are at least a few he could have those nice end-of-day talks.

What is your experience with the number of English speaking pilgrims on the Norte? (He’s unconcerned with needing my help with the locals, just with the pilgrims). Thanks in advance!

 

[J Willhaus]

My husband has for years limped along with very little Spanish and even run an albergue alone in a town where no one spoke English for 2 weeks.

He is taking Spanish at the university this year (over 65 so free tuition) and he's finally beginning to improve.

Part of the fun is trying to communicate with other pilgrims. It hasn't stopped my husband at all and he uses his phone for 1:1 conversations in other languages (Russian, French, etc).

 

[Perambulating Griffin]

In a pinch, especially for when greater accuracy than “grocery store ability” matters, Google translate can be your friend. Use the microphone to speak into it, have it translate and then “speak” it back out.

 

[JerryStroebele]

It's embarrassing, but a lot of Europeans speak English, while a lot of us Americans can't speak anything else. I particularly enjoyed the communal meals in albergues on the del Norte and rarely felt left out of the conversations. Buen Camino

 

[Former member 104756]

Hola @Float05 I think you will find many pilgrims on the Norte / Primitivo will speak English, whether as a first language or otherwise.

As for Spanish, I know your camino is not far away but your partner might like to try the Language Transfer app. It’s free, easy listening and the style of learning is very encouraging. It might click.

App — Language Transfer

www.languagetransfer.org

Their Spanish course is extensive but with bite size lessons.

 

[Antonius Vaessen]

My experience on the Norte was that the common language along pilgrims was english. ( I agree that the language transfer course is very good. Presuming one speaks english well because that is the starting point of these essons

 

[Float05]

It's embarrassing, but a lot of Europeans speak English, while a lot of us Americans can't speak anything else. I particularly enjoyed the communal meals in albergues on the del Norte and rarely felt left out of the conversations. Buen Camino

Thank you Jerry (and others!). I’m going to tell him not to worry, as you’ve all reminded me that friendliness is never in short supply.

 

[Tincatinker]

Just remember that English is the lingua franca between pilgrims in Spain. Yes, that is another slightly tasteless joke, but this appalling website will demonstrate https://alphaomegatranslations.com/...ly translates to,time of the Byzantine Empire.

A friend of long acquaintance, a very senior civil-servant (certainly civil in all circumstances) once explained "I can't be bothered with all that shouting that Brits do, or the s-p-e-a-k-i-n-g v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y: I just smile and point. Seems to work."