SHOULD RIVIERA MAYA EXPATS SPEAK SPANISH OR ENGLISH?
Anyone moving to Mexico worries about dealing with the local culture and most of all the language. Even if you’ve taken Spanish courses, the idea of speaking with locals can be intimidating, to say the least. With all its slang terms, Mexican Spanish is a far cry from the formal “Hola. ¿Cómo estás?” that we all learned in high school.
American and Canadian expats making the big move to the Riviera Maya, however, might not have so much to stress over. Mexico’s Caribbean coast is filled with popular (and up-and-coming) travel destinations that mainly attract travelers from the US, Canada and Europe. Most jobs in the area require at least a small level of English, and it’s safe to say that the vast majority of Mexicans in the Riviera Maya speak conversational English if not more. Local schools require English classes from elementary grade levels, and most tourism-related jobs require certain English skills.
With so many Riviera Maya locals speaking great English, it’s easy for expats to simply use their first language everywhere they go. Waiters, taco vendors and shop owners often see foreigners and try their best to speak to them in English, putting expats in their comfort zone and eliminating the need for Spanish. Many of my expat acquaintances have formed friendships exclusively with other expats and Mexicans who know fluent English. With so many English speakers in your private life and when you’re out on the street, using Spanish in the Riviera Maya simply isn’t needed.
Some of my expat friends say that they try to use Spanish when they’re out and about, but have problems when salespeople insist on practicing their English with foreigners.
But those expats who have taken the time to learn fluent Spanish (which can take years of immersion) claim that they know the Mexican culture on a much deeper and richer level. Communicating in the same language as the locals often allows them to go places they might not have dared to go before, and to talk to Mexicans from different walks of life: Mexicans who might not work in the travel industry. Who knows? You might even fall in love with a Mexican and want to converse with all their family members. (And trust me, it will be a very large family.)
So which is the better choice when living in the Riviera Maya? Speaking English, the language you’re already comfortable with and that most locals are happy to use? Or speaking Spanish, the language that takes time and effort but that may let you experience Mexico on a deeper level?