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The problem is very common, and the worst is some people have no clue they have a problem.
In my opinion, it's essential for expats to know something about the country they move to, at least enough of the local language to be polite to locals, and mix with the local population.

I'm not for a moment suggesting expats go all Spanish or whatever, just they study a little and bend to local norms to at least some degree.

There are books,,, Internet,,,  all sort of Travel Gides, Language Schools worldwide everywhere out there,, plenty enough,,
.. gladly awating for people to grab -if they wish- all the necessary useful available info before they shall do the plunge,, 

You are right Carlozz. I have heard English people boasting that they have lived here for more than fifteen years and have no need to speak Spanish! Their sole command of the language appears to centre round ordering beers. These people want Little England in the sun. They are people who, in my experience, have no real knowledge of their own culture or history. For example, they believe England is the entire U.K! Given that level of ignorance we should not expect them to be able to grasp or understand a different culture.
Fortunately for them the Spanish people are very helpful and forgiving of this type of poor attitude.
That said, it is very difficult to make money in Spain - ask any Spaniard in Andalucía!  Anyone who comes here expecting to make a living is in for a very rude awakening and ignorance of the language and culture do nothing to help. However, we have met Russian and Rumanian workers in all trades serving the Spanish population and speaking good Spanish. An entirely different mind set.

It does seem very strange to move to another country, ostensibly to "get away from it all"; "see someplace different"; "for the experience", and then to isolate oneself from locals and live in an expat bubble.  But that is their loss, only

Carlozz wrote:

In Great Escapers, one British couple opened a restaurant in Spain. During the opening night, the British lady, after serving customers, looked very scared asking her husband: " Somebody said to me Hola. What on earth does it mean?.

Are you sure about that?

No one could be that dumb. Could they?

I have to say that the English are one of the most ethnocentric people I've come across. I used to live in the United Arab Emirates, and the level of arrogance they had - perhaps still believing they were the old colonial lords of the country - was off the charts.

I'm surprised that Spain isn't more selective about English travelers. Everytime there's a football match with visiting supporters, their beautiful cities get pillaged!

Writerman wrote:

They are people who, in my experience, have no real knowledge of their own culture or history.

Pray tell, what is English culture?

Like in every aspect of life,,
there has been people for everything..

Therefore, It has been always easy to generalize too,
even when we shouldn't..

The English troublemakers going over for football or all inclusive, alcohol driven holidays is true - but it is a small amount of people and it doesn't represent all of us. 

A good amount of English have similar opinions to Carlozz and absolutely nothing wrong with that opinion because it's right people should make the effort. From my experience these same people in the UK that hold these opinions can be regularly found wanting to move to Spain for the climate and cost of living to have that 'Benidorm' or 'Eldorado' experience, I use the latter as a lot of them are of that age where they'd remember that particular tv show... they then normally end up in these expat communities! Ironic, right?

I wish I could argue that the British going over to Spain aren't arrogant, but they're normally the ones with enough money to think they're a little bit special. It's not everyone, but there is definitely a few types that regularly fit that specification...

Some of us just want to be near extended family, work whilst here and pay tax here and try to integrate as best we can. :-)

Please try not to judge us all the same!

@funkdakarma04 - English culture is a hot cup of tea with toast and jam in the morning, complaining at the rain then complaining the sun is too hot and we don't get enough rain. Complaining is big portion of it.