Do you have to be bilingual in SA? (San Antonio, Anton: neighborhoods, to buy)

[wanderer74]

I looked through several pages of this forum and at the main info for it and didn't find the answer, so I apologize if this is a common question.

How necessary is it to be bilingual to get by in San Antonio? My husband may have a job opportunity there and I know that whites are a minority in SA, which is fine with me - but my husband, children and I do not speak Spanish well. I have a friend in DFW who said that it is necessary to know Spanish in SA, but she's basing that on the opinion of a friend who moved from SA to Ft Worth because she didn't like SA, which may have biased her opinion.

Straight answers appreciated!

[doss1]

This is a common myth. YOU DO NOT NEED TO KNOW SPANISH TO LIVE IN SA.

There are some jobs that may require or at least recommend you know Spanish for. What job opportunity does your husband have?

[scuba steve]

Yes, a working knowledge of French will GREATLY help daily life in San Antonio! They really should make this a sticky.

[firstclassflyer]

Wanderer74..I'll send you a direct message.

[TexasRedneck]

I can speak spanish well enough to buy a beer, hay for my hoss, an' git my face slapped....other than that, forget it!

Seriously - you can do quite well w/o speaking spanish in SA, but it's a fun language to at least learn some of the courtesy phrases in - a sincere "Thank You" in ANY language is always nice for someone to hear.

[mojosalsa]

Nope. I'm hispanic, born and raised here, and never learned too much spanish. I can order food, and know some choice insults, and that's pretty much it.

Even if you go to a hole in the wall Mexican restaurant, and your server seems to only speak spanish, they understand enough english to provide good customer service. You can order in english, and they'll come back with the right stuff. So if you're not hispanic, no one will expect you to know spanish.
If you are hispanic, or look like one (mediterranean, etc) the older folks will expect you to, and will shame you in public for not knowing. But I just blow them off

And we're not the majority by much. (just enough to tip the scales)

[jwebtx]

The very easy answer is no. How strong of a no depends on where you chose to live, work, and interact. There are neighborhoods, like in every other major city in the state, where English is a second language at the very best.

Again, the real answer is no.

[raa1371]

I've been here for 28 years & no, you don't have to know the language. I've never had a problem anywhere.

[ashbeeigh]

Do you need to know it to survive? No? Is it to your advantage in some situations? Yes?

[doss1]

I would recommend learning Spanish if you plan to move to Iowa. Serious!