Are there any German folk that do NOT speak English?

Question

And this is a question posed to those who KNOW Germans who do not speak Enlglis h or had experience of it, rather than actual Germans! I do not know the German translation for my question!

Answer 1

And how would they understand and answer your question?

Answer 2

Hello -

Of the younger and middle agend generation most German that grew up in the Western part, will speak (in theory and depending on their personal abilty) some English as it is and was mandatory in all types of secondary school in the "west".

However, those that grew up in the Eastern part of Germany (former GDR) and finished school before the reunification in 1990, learned Russian as their first foreign language and English was often considered unimportant or the language of the enemy.

So, you will encounter quite a lot of (slightly older) Germans from the Eastern German states that rather speak Russian than English. The younger generation in West and East will speak and have learned English.


Regarding an earlier comment: In grew up in South West Germany too and even though one had the option to learn French as first foreign language there was NO way around choosing English as second foreign language. I did English, Latin and French.

Answer 3

In the whole Southwest of Germany English was not taught in the lower levels of the 3 tier system until a few years ago.
Even now it's not compulsory. Why should it be? Our nearest neighbours are the French.

A nation of people who don't speak other languages as a rule can hardly expect everybody else to learn their language just to accomodate them.

If you want to go to Germany you better learn German.

Answer 4

the german school system makes english mandatory to learn from 5th grade on. nowadays, they even offer english classes in 1st grade already. therefore, every german under the age of about 60 will be able to speak english to some extend....and I say "to some extend" because some people, as it is in every country, just don't pay attention in class and therefor, they are not very good at it. Most of the time, they can write and read english to some extend, but have a hard time speaking the language. but then again there are many that go overseas or to the UK for a few weeks or even a year, and they'll be able to talk to ya......old people usually don't speak english because they didn't learn it in school, like my grandparents, for example

oh yea....by the way...when you go to the former russian territory of germany (formerly known as "East Germany") you'll see that people between the ages of about 30-60 rather speak Russian than English, because they took russian in school, not english.

the translation for your question is:

"Gibt es Deutsche, die KEIN Englisch sprechen?"

Answer 5

Yes there are. Approximately 50% of Germans can carry on a conversation in English, so that leaves 40 million who can't.

Answer 6

Yes. My ex-boyfriend was a German and his live grandparents who have been living in England for 40 years still do not speak a word of English! I thought it was tricky - no, they speak no English.

Answer 7

Ach du lieber! Of course there are plenty of Germans in Germany (and even a few living in other countries) who knows no other language except their own. Obviously you haven't turned over every single rock in Deutschland yet!

Answer 8

Shouldn't you post this question in German?

Answer 9

Gibt es Deutsche Leute die kein English sprechen?

Answer 10

Gibt es deutsche Leute die nicht Englisch sprechen koennen

Answer 11

i know not of the germans sorry but i am willing to learn the answer to your question!
so i shall stick around to learn answer!