Trying to use a foreign language

He seems that he already knows as much German as me. I like when people visiting my country are making an effort to speak French. I really dislike English speakers when they think that everyone has to speak English. I remember that during an excavation a co-worker asked me to explain the site to some English tourists that were looking through the gate. I was doing something important and I responded with a loud voice in French : "In France, I speak French !" Then a guy who wanted to visit the excavation told me in a good French : "You can also explain us in French if you want.". When I am in a foreign country, I try to use the local language. I learned Spanish at school, it is not common for a French, and people are amazed and really happy when they hear me speaking their language. I remember that I went once in a small shop in the center of Spain, and I asked some details about some local delis. All the people in the shop explained me with many details, and when I had made my choice, the persons who were queuing insisted to let me their place to pay. Spanish people may really be kind when a foreigner speaks their language !

I think that it's the height of politeness to at least try to speak the language of the country you happen to be in. I like to learn at least 'Please' and 'Thank you', even though I know that the person I'm speaking to may understand English perfectly well (and may sometimes speak it better than me!). I remember having a very entertaining and fairly intelligible evening with a friend in Kempen who spoke no English (and I no German). We covered all manner of topics from Modern Art to the problems of being a vegetarian in Germany and the benefits of solar heating (as I recall). In the end we had to agree that a bottle of the local brew (Thomaswasser) was the best dictionary in the world!

I think in his position he should have started lessons a long time ago. If people live in a foreign country it is good manners to try to use the native language.

LOL. well it's about time he has learned some of the native language!

It doesn't phase me to hear a foreign person speak English. I am a lot more surprised to hear a fellow US person speaking something other than English, which happens almost never.

It's really cool when a foreigner would use the "native" language. It shows that they're open to learning it and that they want to belong.

Well I'd like to learn lots of foreign languages. Right now I'm trying to learn Russian. I think it's amusing when foreigners have accents while speaking our language.

I think it is great. I wish that I could speak different languages. I can still learn by going to the library and checking out videos or tapes. I can understand a little Spanish but need to learn more. It is the one language that is used by many people outside of English.

Yes, it is great for a foreign person to try and speak my language.

It makes it easier when everyone else wants to speak your native tongue.