[hamlet554]

Hi,
I read through your discussion about second/third languages and was surprised when you said that in Germany people didn't speak English to you. I am German. We all have to learn English at school starting with fifth grade. Though, our school system divides into three different schools after elementary school. That's why the level of competence of speaking English differes quite a lot sometimes and some people therefore might not like to speak English. But in most big cities you always find someone who is happy to speak English.

I do have to agree that some English native speakers do expect too much by saying: we speak the world's language, you have to be able to communicate with us. It would do a lot of those people good if they once bothered to learn a second language themselves.

Another language which is also taught at the more advanced level schools in Germany is French, and lately Spanish has become quite popular. Only a few schools still teach Russian, there are more which still teach Latin, and some that teach Italian. Any other languages you have to study at univesity or teach yourself.