ZSU controller voiced concern regarding frequent use of Spanish in the control environment limiting non Spanish speaking controllers from understanding in house coordination; noting the environment is unsafe.

Narrative

I am using this report to inform about a situation which I consider unsafe. I work at San Juan Approach Control. The majority of the personnel are Hispanic. It is routine here for the personnel to speak Spanish in the control room. I have brought this up many times and have been told many things from the controllers and from management. I have been told to go learn Spanish. The radio transmissions and the land lines are in English. Offline communication in the control room is in Spanish. Tonight I am working the R7/R3 Sector and we are IFR. The R1 and R5 Sector are speaking to each other in Spanish. It is routine daily. I was trained in the FAA to have situational awareness. I listen to what goes on around me; but I can not understand because of the language. I consider this to be an unsafe situation and not an environment to promote teamwork. I also believe I have the right to work in a workplace and to have access to all information as any other employee. They may be discussing a particular procedure; LOA; etc. Spanish is also used when talking to a trainee. Therefore I cannot understand what is being said. I request the FAA to make a policy of English Only in the Control Room. I believe this should be an English Zone; my workplace. Recommendation; I suggest an ALL English Zone in the Control Room. English is required to become an Air Traffic Controller.