I'd like to re-iterate what Huw has said.  We live in a small village (Mas de Barberans) where Catalan is the first language, although everyone seems to also speak Spanish.  People chatting in pubs, fiestas, outside our window and on the village loudspeaker system all use Catalan.  If we want to feel part of what is going on we have to understand what is being said, no question.  You have to decide: do you wnat to live here or really live here?