expatplayer

Is there much English spoken in Panama City? Can an English speaker get around okay, even if they do not know any Spanish?

Lalaguayaba

There really is not a lot of English spoken in the city by people who do not have a college education; i.e. just about everyone. You can get by with the basic Yes/No with your taxi driver, but waitstaff, bartenders, etc. will probably need a little more--most people try to have a little English; they do get our movies and tv, just don't try to have deep philosophical converstations. There are good bilingual signs posted in the tourist districts, and many menus are in Spanglish, but try to get familiar with a phrasebook before heading out of the cities--it will make life easier for you and the locals will appreciate that you made an effort.

Cheers.

themark

What is a phrasebook? I assume it is a book with a list of common pharases and how to say them. Is that guess correct? How are the phrases organized in the book?

Lalaguayaba

Amazon.com: Spanish Phrasebook
Go to the library and check one out. Buy one and find out. They are books, therefore they are all different--because different people write them.

tallman33

Thanks for posting that link Lalaguayaba!

I also recommend a phrasebook. You can see how valuable it is just by reading the description on Amazon.