I've lived in Spain for 16 years. I know this problem personally.
I've sat in hospital waiting rooms translating for neighbours who had no idea what the doctor just told them. I've watched friends nod along at the pharmacy, pretending they understood the dosage instructions. I've seen people put off going to the doctor altogether because the thought of trying to explain their symptoms in Spanish felt too daunting.
The expat community here is wonderfully diverse — British, German, Dutch, Norwegian, Ukrainian, Russian, Polish. Many have lived here for years, even decades. And yet the language barrier never fully goes away. Some people feel embarrassed about it. Some feel they're "too old" to learn Spanish now. Some simply never had the opportunity.
But here's the truth: you are never too old to be understood. You are never too old to communicate clearly with your doctor, your pharmacist, your bank, your builder. You just need the right tool in your pocket.
David Interprets isn't just for tourists or new arrivals. It's for the retired couple in Torrevieja who've lived here ten years and still dread hospital appointments. It's for the family on holiday in Benidorm when someone gets hurt. It's for anyone who has ever smiled and nodded when they had absolutely no idea what was being said to them.
I'm fluent in both English and Spanish, and for years friends, neighbours and colleagues have called on me when they've needed help navigating Spanish life. But I'm a teacher and a busy person — I can't always be there in person, at your side. David Interprets means that even when I'm not, I'm always with you on your phone.
I built it because nobody should face those moments alone — and because the technology to fix it finally exists. I just had to put it together.
David Phillips — British expat, Cambridge CELTA qualified teacher, former NHS nurse, Alicante, Spain. Living proof that 16 years isn't always enough to stop needing a translator.
