Dealing With No/Bad Spanish

One of the main things that scares people away is not knowing Spanish. While that is understandable, there are some things you can do to minimize this particular problem. (The very best thing is to actually learn Spanish! See our Learning Spanish.)

The first and most obvious, is to stay in a tourist hotel. That is, a place that expects non-Spanish speakers and will have staff that speak English and possibly other languages. They will usually handle all your travel arrangements as well either picking you up at the airport or arranging for someone to do that. This works if you are just here for the weather but is not a good way to get to know Nicaragua.

In general, people here have more time than those in the First World. Thus, they are more likely to take the time to try to communicate with you. Take advantage of this.

Communicating with Minimal Spanish

The very basics that you can find in little Spanish for Tourists books will get you going. I remember reading 30+ years ago in A Peoples Guide to Mexico something like "they may not speak the same language as you but they aren't stupid". This particular statement had to do with pulling up to the pumps in a gas station. They are going to figure out that you want to buy gas.

I remember being in Costa Rica with minimal Spanish in 2000. I had a rental car and needed gas. I pulled up to the pumps in a gas station. The attendant, after greeting me, said "YAY-no?" I had no idea what that meant but I decided "si" was the right answer. Later, I looked it up. The word is "lleno" and it means full. One word, which I didn't even know, was really all that was needed.

This about other normal situations where what you want can be assumed.

• If you enter a restaurant, you probably want something to eat. Ordering can be as simple as pointing to items on the menu.
• If you enter a hotel, you are probably looking for a room.
• If you enter an ice cream parlor, you probably want a ice cream. Which flavor? Just point.

There are lots more examples, of course. For less obvious things, just learn a few nouns. For example, if you are in a restaurant and say "baño" (BAN-yo), it will be obvious that you are looking for a bathroom.

Spanish Schools

There are quite a few Spanish schools in Nicaragua. Most tend to offer 20 classroom hours per week plus some excursions. The typical cost is $100/week and they can be found in Estelí, Granada, Managua and San Juan del Sur and, to a lesser extent, in other areas. A week or two of classes won't turn you into a fluent Spanish speaker but it will significantly change your ability to communicate.

Most schools also offer a homestay option. They arrange for you to live with a local family who will supply a room and your meals. This gives you a chance to practice your Spanish with people that are used to dealing with people with low Spanish skills. It can really make a significant difference in how much you learn. The cost is minimal—typically $30-$40/week which is probably less than you would spend on meals eating out.

Learning "On the Street"

If you have some Spanish and just want to improve your conversational skills or are just fearless, learning on the street can work. One of the best places to practice in in the park. All cities have a central park and you can almost always find someone to talk to.

I recommend buying a local newspaper, finding a comfortable location and just hanging out. Conversations may start out as simple as someone asking what time it is or where you are from. You may also run into someone who speaks a bit of English and would like to practice it on you. Turn this into an opportunity where you help them with their English and, in return, they help you with your Spanish.

You can also look for additional opportunities to "listen". For example, you might go to a church, an AA meeting or even just to a store or restaurant and listen to conversations. This is actually better than you might expect because you will be hearing "how it is said" here rather than just listening in a classroom situation.

Movies are another place where you can learn. Whether it is in a theatre or just a DVD, a lot of the movies are in English with Spanish subtitles. And don't leave out watching TV or listening to the radio. The news is good because you get to find out about local things as well as hear people that, in general, speak correct Spanish.