Help in Germany

Hi Tonny,
learning English has been compulsory in schools for quite a while now, so I'm sure you would always find someone who can help you out in English. But even if your German is not fantastic yet, people will really appreciate the effort you have gone to, to learn their language. Be brave and just try it out. It's such a great feeling to be able to communicate in another language, especially when you actually get what you were asking for...

I WANT A NATIVE SPEAKERS AND STUDENTS LIKE ME

Tonny.
I travel to Germany (Europe) at least twice a year (my family & fiance live there)....too bad mom never taught us to speak it so here I am learning (this is by the way the BEST German course I've ever used...nothing has worked better).

Anyway, you will find that "Everywhere" you go you will be understood, but use what you know...they do appreciate it especially in Germany. Swiss (more Southern Switzerland) are not as friendly, but you can still manage. They have a tendancy to act like they don't know English, but they do.

I find though that everytime I go, most Germans (especially people under 70) love to speak English and would rather practice their English than to 'crawl' through a conversation with a slow German speaking American. It's not out of irritation, it's just that they know it's easier for us and they want to speak English and learn about our culture. Unfortunately, it doesn't help us learn.

Just try it, but if you can't get through...use your English, they are pretty fluent.

When I first went to Leipzig 10 years ago, I was expecting more people to speak english than did so. It was sink or swim. I think that even in the east, now, most people under 50 speak a fair amount of english, especially in the bigger cities. But if you want to get out of the cities, your german will be much more necessary.

It is easier to find English speakers in the cities like Munich, Berlin, Vienna, etc and near military bases like Ramstein (Kaiserslautern) and Garmisch. It's much harder in the villages. I used to live in a small village near Munich and spoke German most of the time. In Munich it was much easier to find someone who spoke English. I know some Germans whose English is better than some native English speakers!

A lot of people speak English and it is everywhere you go. English and German are slowly combining as German is too difficult even for Germans to speak in. With this said, the school system here in Germany teaches English in a very bad way. Leaving young people lost. Few seem to be able to speak English even after 10 years of classes and feel silly speaking it. People in their 30s seem to speak it more often then the younger people.

All the European tourists coming to Germany, French, Dutch, Scans etc., always speak English. It is the International language. NO ONE LEARNS GERMAN UNLESS they are forced to.

I live in Germany and can offer you the REAL DEAL. Never learn German in Germany.. Take courses at home and learn with your own people.