I’m about to sound like the ignorant American I am, so I apologize in advance! We’re looking at a trip to Germany, and possibly Prague, and we’ve noticed that a lot of the hotel names are French and a couple hotels that aren’t named in French have replied to comments with things like “Bonjour! etc etc” What’s up with this? Is French just the most commonly spoken common language, even in Germany and Czechia? (I know that Germany and Czechia have their own languages, of course.) Or is it something else?
I’ve traveled quite a bit to different places in France within the past few years, both large an small cities, and the vast majority of people i meet, even younger people (<30), have either so bad English skills that they are really hard to communicate with, or none at all. Meeting someone in France with proper English skill is definitely the exception rather than the rule IME.
Yeah skill wise it differs wildly, however the inflexible ‘we’re in France so you must speak French and i know not a single bit of English’ mentality is out. That’s what I thought you were on about.
Often they do try and most across all demographics know a little bit and are often eager to try. Even an old nun at a Christian thrift store tried taking to me in English.
My most jarring experience was with a waiter, he asked “English or French?” When I entered the restaurant, I answered “English please” and he just shook his head and said “no”…like, why would you ask then!?
20 years ago it would have been “we’re closed” in English and “bienvenue” in French.