Europeans' English

I have been to many of these places and can say that experience isn’t always what the numbers say.

I have been to many places inside Germany where I couldn’t find anyone who spoke English.

Including in Munich going from our hotel in the City Center to the main Christmas Market at the Marienplatz or trying to find the American Housing in Darmstadt, etc.

I have been to the Netherlands, Austria and Belgium and had no problems finding people who spoke English.

I was also in Zagreb and Dubrovnik, Croatia and almost no one there spoke English – but the people were always willing to help even if it took longer for both of us to understand each other.

Bosnia and Montenegro aren’t on this lists, but they are both like Croatia.

I was in Poland and a few People spoke English only at the Airport other than that it was near impossible.

I have been to every part of Switzerland (the German, French and Italian Speaking Areas) and always found someone that could speak English.

I went to Aviano and Venice, Italy and it was very hard to get anyone who could speak English (even in the touristy areas.)

I went to Greece and they could speak English only at the Airport.

I’ve been to many parts of France and even in Paris it is difficult to find someone that speaks English. I remember when my Mom and I went to Euro Disney when I was 14. We went to the Paris Metro Information Desk and not one person there could speak English. I had to go ask some French Policemen in French how to get to Euro Disney.

When I was in Ukraine no one spoke English (not even the Guy we had hired before the trip to drive us around and whom we were told would speak English.) Everyone spoke Ukrainian and Russian and so I had to use my Russian since I didn’t know Ukrainian.

I’m glad to see that Russia didn’t even make the list since finding a person who speaks English in Russia is harder than finding a unicorn.

As a Foreigner I oftentimes had to go to a special Foreigner Cashier for everything (Train tickets, Tour Tickets, etc.) since Foreigners have to pay about 150% more than a Russian does for the same thing. Even at the Foreigner Cashier no one could speak anything other than Russian. In the Airports too it was next to impossible to find anyone who spoke English.

Even in places where I have not personally been to, but have had to deal with Officials (at Archives, etc.) over the phone or by e-mail I have never been able to find anyone who spoke English when I dealt with Spain despite there being a law that every Archive has to have at least 1 person who speaks English (the 1 person was “always on vacation.”)

Although knowing English and being able to understand what the person is saying in English are two different things. I have been to many places in the US (especially down South) where the person claims to be speaking English and I have no idea what they are saying. I went with some Russian Friends to a Restaurant in Virginia and all the Russians spoke excellent English (since they had to to work in the US) and none of us could understand what the Waitress was saying and she only spoke English.

I also went to a Russian High School in Yaroslavl once to speak with the Students there (because of overcrowding they go to school in shifts) and I was there for both shifts and their English Teacher came up to me and started speaking “English” to me. I had no idea what she was saying and asked her to speak to me in Russian – which I understood.

It may not sound like a big deal if someone doesn’t speak or know English, but studies have shown that even people who never leave their home city will lose money throughout their lifetime if they don’t know and use English.

Knowing English isn’t good just for us Canadians, Americans or the Brits.

I was in Switzerland once where a Japanese Woman, an Austrian Guy, a Malaysian Man and a Norwegian Teenager all sat around with me and we were all speaking in English.

I know this is only about Europe, but I have found, through my travels, that most people in Mexico, Central America, South America, Eastern Europe, Southern Europe, Africa and Asia don’t tend to speak English even if it is one of their Official Languages.