Regarding Breony: Even though "nearly every civilized country" has their kids learning English, that doesn't mean that they're any good at it. Especially in Germany (one of the shards) has very poor English skills among the general population, and even those who do "just fine" just do not enjoy speaking the language and consider it work.
Even a bunch of former school mates who took an advanced English course lacked basic English skills and struggled to understand texts.
Also I don't know if it is just a stereotype, but from what I have heard, many French people have high respect for their own language and are reluctant to speak English (if that is horribly wrong, please correct me)
And yes, it's poor role playing if you have to play being the foreigner 1/3 of the population does not want to talk to.
Even a bunch of former school mates who took an advanced English course lacked basic English skills and struggled to understand texts.
Also I don't know if it is just a stereotype, but from what I have heard, many French people have high respect for their own language and are reluctant to speak English (if that is horribly wrong, please correct me)
And yes, it's poor role playing if you have to play being the foreigner 1/3 of the population does not want to talk to.