https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Spain in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed A new study has revealed that although English levels in Spain are improving, they're still lagging behind neighbouring countries. https://www.thelocal.es/20260116/anxious-about-speaking-what-experts-say-spaniards-needs-to-improve-in-english Fri, 16 Jan 2026 11:59:47 +0100 anxious-about-speaking-what-experts-say-spaniards-needs-to-improve-in-english Spain is the EU country with the second lowest level of English proficiency in the EU, according to a 2023 study. We asked readers why, in their opinion, the country appears to be struggling to get better at 'inglés'. https://www.thelocal.es/20191120/why-are-spanish-so-bad-at-speaking-english-study-readers-views Wed, 20 Nov 2019 10:11:45 +0100 why-are-spanish-so-bad-at-speaking-english-study-readers-views Despite Spain’s popularity with English-speaking holidaymakers and home buyers, its people continue to have one of the worst levels of English in Europe according to the 2022 English Proficiency Index. https://www.thelocal.es/20221116/spaniards-have-second-lowest-level-of-english-in-eu Wed, 16 Nov 2022 12:37:32 +0100 spaniards-have-second-lowest-level-of-english-in-eu The spelling is ridiculous, the accents are impossible and then there are all those irregular plurals. Is it any wonder Spanish students learning English sometimes just want to give up? https://www.thelocal.es/20130924/top-ten-reasons-spaniards-hate-the-english-language Tue, 24 Sep 2013 19:52:00 +0200 top-ten-reasons-spaniards-hate-the-english-language Spain is continuing to see big gains in its English language skills, with the country reaping the rewards of increased investment into language education, a new study shows. https://www.thelocal.es/20141112/spain-make-hu Wed, 12 Nov 2014 17:52:00 +0100 spain-make-hu Are underqualified native English-speaking teachers stealing Spaniards' jobs simply because of where they're from? The Local investigates. https://www.thelocal.es/20140612/spain-english-teaching-underqualified-cambridge Thu, 12 Jun 2014 19:12:00 +0200 spain-english-teaching-underqualified-cambridge Nine out of every ten English teachers in Spain think the country's Prime Minister wouldn't pass a high-school English test, a new survey by Cambridge University Press reveals. https://www.thelocal.es/20140605/spains-pm-wouldnt-pass-high-school-english-test Thu, 05 Jun 2014 15:30:00 +0200 spains-pm-wouldnt-pass-high-school-english-test Former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, mocked for his lack of foreign language skills when in power, has said demanding fluency in English would exclude the "sons of workers" from positions of responsibility. https://www.thelocal.es/20140224/spains-rulers-dont-need-to-speak-english-former-pm Mon, 24 Feb 2014 18:48:00 +0100 spains-rulers-dont-need-to-speak-english-former-pm Spaniards are among Europe's biggest improvers in terms of English language skills, with the economic crisis a driving force for that change, a new study reveals. https://www.thelocal.es/20131113/spain-big-improvers-in-english-language-stakes Wed, 13 Nov 2013 12:34:00 +0100 spain-big-improvers-in-english-language-stakes Whether teaching English is your calling in life, or you just want an excuse to live the good life in Spain for a while, The Local's guide to teaching English will get you off on the right foot. https://www.thelocal.es/20130429/top-tips-for-teaching-english-in-spain Mon, 29 Apr 2013 20:19:00 +0200 top-tips-for-teaching-english-in-spain