How it is impossible to learn a language like German when they ALL want to speak ENGLISH with you?

Question

I dont know why, i think I can speak very good sometimes, but NO! they dont want you speaking "THEIR LANGUAGE"!!

Answer 1

There are five rational explanations:
1. They don't like hearing your accent (or nationality)
2. They can't bear to see you stuggle
3. They want to use you to practrice their english
4. What you say may sound clear to you but fuzzy and unclear to them until they get used to it
5. They appreciate you speaking their language,
but think you are less likely to understand what they say to you in response unless they say it in english (which is returning the politeness)

Answer 2

After the war, I was taken out of the Infantry, and reassigned to Military Government. I was stationed in a small town about fourty miles from the nearest American army unit. I was the onlt American in town.
In a few weeks time I was speaking German. Nobody ever attempted to speak English to me. I doubt anyone knew any English. They were very pleased that I , at first struggled through with their language, and became better day by day.
Your experience is the direct opposite of mine, of course that was seventy years ago.

Answer 3

Be persistant! They all want to practise their English, like you want to practise your German. However, if you KEEP a) talking to them in German, and b) asking them to speak in German as you are trying to learn, you should find people want to help you.
Failing that, if you speak in German and they speak in English, you're both getting what you want really?

Answer 4

I'm from the UK but I've lived in Germany and Japan. It's my experience that when a native speaker gets the "vibe" that you aren't an *amazing* speaker of their language, they will start to use English as they think communication will be smoother.

Answer 5

I had the same experience. I lived in Wiesbaden, Germany, for two years. When I tried to speak German in the shops, they answered me in English.

Answer 6

properly, that is an quite tricky and exciting language to study. Like others have reported, no longer all Germans talk English or talk it properly adequate to carry an finished communique.

Answer 7

Guten tag!


Of course it's unlikely be good to learn Deustch when all people around you declined to do so ~ but I find it very interesting to learn, in fact! Somehow, I love the Deustch language, not the Southern Germany and Austria one (Bayern).

Answer 8

Just tell them that you would like to practice their language, just as they would like to practice speaking yours. Im my experience, people understand that quite well, but just be aware that they probably want to practice their English just as much as you want to practice speaking whatever their language is!

Answer 9

Ich weiss nicht - oder

Yes they do like to practise their English on you.

However if you stay there long enough you will find they quickly talk amongst themselves in German - then you can join in.

Sprachen sie Deutch

Answer 10

I must disagree....I speak spanish and Portuguese and I find that the people are more friendly with me when I speak to them in their tongue!!