Where in Spain is an authentic Spanish-speaking town/city for family with three 10-yearolds to live for 1 year

Question

I want to move my family to Spain to learn Spanish. Want a town with very few English-speakers. Would like upscale, safe and clean. Want to enroll our 3 girls in regular school. Spouse and I both want jobs, but high pay not important. Many skills, both with college education. Don't want area with high tourism.

Answer 1

Suburb of Madrid is what I reccomend.

Answer 2

My kids were born and bred here over the last 15 years and learnt perfect Spanish at Spanish state school. You will struggle to find anywhere in Spain now that is not affected by tourism (especially the capital Madrid) but your kids will learn the language perfectly in school (not in the street!) so don't worry too much about location on their part. Maybe concern yourself with some intersts for yourself and your partner which is equally important for a harmonious home life for your kids.

Answer 3

Northern Spain has less tourism than here in the south... I would say that for what you are interested in the following list might be interesting:  

Madrid, is evidently the main city, being the countrys capital. There are quite a few smaller towns around it you could choose such as Aranjuez, or Guadalajara. (The best area around Madrid is on the western side).

Valladolid (presumably the best quality spanish of Spain is in this city/province).

Burgos (I find this city less interesting, but that's a personal opinion)

Salamanca (university city par excellence)

Ávila

Zaragoza...

Then for interesting Santiago de Compostela... It is not a tourist city, but rather a "pilgrim" city... There are people that come on pilgrimage from all over Europe... But the town is fantastic, well worth a visit (if you don't choose for living there).

I live in Andalucía, our area of Spain is magnificent...

Granada would be a good city for you. Also very tourist minded because of La Alhambra, but it is more of a university city, also very good level. Then there are Sevilla and Córdoba... but to tell the truth I would prefer Granada, and you always could find time to visit the others...

We live on la Costa del Sol VERY high tourism! (But also a great place to live).

Answer 4

Why do you want the children to learn spanish? Try Madrid.

Answer 5

excellent idea but I'm afraid once you get away from the tourist areas your opportunities for employment disappear. Unemployment is on the increase in Spain. Any jobs away from the tourist areas will be for Spanish people.

Depending on the age of your children. Many people come to Spain with the idea of integrating into the community. The younger the child the better the chance of them being able to cope with new friends, and not being able to speak the language. I've seen many families coming to Spain from the UK and having to return, simply because the kids could not settle. Being 10 years of age they will find it very strange unless they all have strong personalities.

I have moved to Spain to an area where English speaking people are limited. I had to learn Spanish to communicate.

Anywhere in Spain away from the coast would be a lovely place to settle.

Answer 6

Madrid, Santander, have a look for somewhere in the north.

Answer 7

Well, every town or city in spain is really Spain-Speaker lol. I think that best places to go to learn spanish are places that have many tourism because there are many people who speak english there and it could be easier to you to learn. You can go to Las Palmas, Palma de Mallorca, Puerto del Rosario. They are nice cities (I think Las Palmas is the best one). There aren't steals or murders in any of them and you can find an easy job or school for your kids there. I hope that you to enjoy Spain, I think is one of the best european countries.

Answer 8

I would suggest Seville, because It's where I did so.  Of course I was a bit older (20 - and in University), but it fits your needs.  Santander is another good choice.  Madrid might prove to be less easy to avoid English speakers, though in the suburbs, you will probably have no problem, and there is more likelihood of work.  Getting work permits may prove difficult for you if you are Americans, make sure you have that under control before you make any further plans, though British people have only to find work, the visa situation is taken care of by EU rules.  

Good luck!