Question - has anyone moved abroad to a country where they don't speak the language?

[lunavix]

Dh and I really want to move out of the UK, but he's struggling finding a job that utilises his degree. We ideally want to move to a European country, but neither of us have a second language.. we'd both learn but I feel we won't gain fluency from a night class (which could take years anyways) and I was wondering if anyone could give us advice re: moving abroad.

The main problems being dh doesn't have a job lined up, we're worried that we may both have to get jobs such as bar work etc to help learning the language and then he could hunt for something better... but is this realistic at all?

Any advice appreciated!

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We moved to France and we barely spoke the language. The best way to learn any language is to immerse yourselves into it.

I wouldn't recommend France atm as the country is going through an economic nightmare and we are moving back to the UK But if you were to get a job, there are plenty of vacancies for English language teachers. You don't have to have experience, just good English! You can get lesson plans from the BBC website for any age group from tots to adults. It's the best way to go for now as you are almost guaranteed a job that way. You need to move close to a city though and be prepared to work strange hours.

Once your language is improved you can apply for better jobs. You can also get lessons in the country where you live and it would much better as you'd be putting your lessons to good use every day!

What's your dh's degree? Depending on his skill, Germany could be the place... high unemployment, but English native speakers in high demand.

lunavix - are you really unhappy here?

Depends what line of work your dh is in. Here in Germany there are loads of English-speaking jobs in sectors such as IT and banking. But on a day-to-day level, not speaking the language or only having a smattering can be pretty grim. You can begin to get round that by doing an intensive language course, but that can be hard if you have small kids (don't know your circumstances). I've been here for over 2 years and I'm still struggling.

Well we weren't thinking costa del sol lol I know the bar work thing is misleading just going with what we know pre-uni days for dh and I lol!!!!

By the time we move, dh will be a few years post-graduate, plus I'll have a childcare NVQ and a number of years experience... maybe teaching is the way forward (like TEFL yes?)

We were thinking probably Spain (first choice, dh has a thing about Barcelona, plus my dad lives in rural spain) or France (although I don't have any desire to live in France longterm, and your points are duly noted Rhubarb)

Would we be able to get information from anywhere such as schools (how will ds fit in? he's 2.2 now, and just speaking english, want him to go to a decent school too....) and if I'd be able to work (new baby due August... granted we're talking a year or so in the future, but then I guess I'd need childcare to work...)

We moved to German speaking Switzerland where they use a particular dialect of Swiss German as opposed to the High German you'd learn at evening class. dh had o-level German, I had none ! dh worked for a UK owned bank so spoke mainly English at work but had to also do the bulk of our domestic administration and basic tasks like arrange appointments.

tbh it was the major drawback to living there long term as I felt quite isolated in day-to-day life despite there being a large expat community and ds attending an International school. Over time I had enough converstaion to get by but still felt inadequate and as if living in parallel to those around me.

You can't actually live in CH - rent an apartment, get a work permit, buy a mobile etc - without having a job arranged (non EU) and much of the system is privately funded such as healthcare. Within the EU it is probably easier to live and work and in a tourist area the language may be less significant an issue. However it may prove difficult to integrate and be accepted by the locals without it, and much of the success of your venture may depend on their support.

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CF,tell us your story.Was it re Germany? How long were you there btw?

Yes,I have.Russia and Turkey (And France but I do speak French.)
It was/is hard and that is with a lot of support that is part and parcel of dh's job(ie office drivers and interpeters to help with things).
There are virtually no expats where we live now.

Not for the fainthearted.

I don't really understand people who go t o a place where they have no ties or links or language skilss.Terrifically difficult and lonely.

Californifrau - I have seen a lot of your threads, and what you were going through.. do you think Germany contributed any to that, like it may have been different in another one?

I got a job teaching in a private school here in France with no TEFL and no experience. I spoke English and had an English degree, that was good enough for them!

dd was 4 when we moved here. She found it very difficult at first, she is a sensitive child and really struggled tbh. But then she found a friend who lives just opposite, he'd moved from Paris so was new in the school too, her French just took off after that and now she's happy as pie!

You also have to remember that many British qualifications mean very little to the Europeans. For childcare here in France you have to be registered with the Mayor so presumably would need to prove yourself to them, I'm not sure that they would accept an English qualification. My dh is a fully qualified excavator operator but to drive diggers legally here, he has to take his tests again in France.

You get free language tuition if you move to Sweden but you have to have a job if you want to stay there.

With the childcare qual, an English speaking/bilingual nursery might be interested in you.

Trouble is,without recognisable qualifications,you are stuck in the casual work/private English lesson groove,which is a great laugh in your 20s,but not so funny when 40 is looming and you have f*ck all to show for your slog.

I wonder from time to time whether things might have been different had we gone to Geneva where I could have exercised my schoolgirl French !

too right, MD. and teaching-english-as-foreign-language course costs a small fortune, requires non-stop study & coursework & then you practically have to pay your students to let you teach them! I do anyway. my students are bankers & by the time I've arranged childcare, driven into Geneva and paid for parking I've got practically nothing to show for it. So much prep and marking as well. Still, I love teaching.

MrsD - for the most part, yes.

I've been here nearly four years now from Australia and would desperately move back if I could - in my eyes that country is what we are looking for - good schools, tons of family orientated things to do, a good lifestyle, when you work a 40 hour week you have something to show at the end of it. But it's just too far - we're very close to dh's family and we don't want to cut ties with them. While my sister is out there, we just aren't that close, and I realise how important it is for ds to grow up with loving close family, as I didn't have that.

Having said that, Europe is close enough and dh's family are fortunate enough that they'd be able to visit quite frequently. Plus I'd imagine that the ILs would consider somewhere like spain to retire.

Are you rooting for CH tonight, LIZS?

SS,my sister lives near you and was in this trap (married to a French man)
Eventually bit the bullet and did her CAPES so that she could teach in a lycee.Now going to do the agregation but in the meantime,has got a new job in Martinique!

sounds great. is it do-able at the ripe old age of 43, do you think?