German guys. Will you respond to the tourists better if they try to speak German to you ?

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A.H.

That depends, if you speak only a few words or bad German rather stick to English.
Only try to speak German if you really master the language and do not butcher it.

Alwin E

"Do you speak English?" will be understood everywhere. If they don't, they will tell you bluntly "Nein, sprich gefÃ¤lligst Deutsch!", but in most cases they'll say "yes, a little, aber sprich langsam [but speak slowly]".

Here's a song for you from 1976; but probably this don't work any more:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27Lv4sNqzZE

Thomas t

Its always nice to at least try to ask them in their language. If it wont work due to your bad german skills, noone will be angry ;)
At least you tried. Everybody will be happy to help you in english ;)

fliege52000

I really don't care, if they ask me something in English or try to talk German. I speak both, so I'm always happy when I see people from another countries and like to help them any time.

boy

yes.

because the language of germany is simply german. thats just how it is.

people over there might understand english, and might respond to you in a couples of words to you in english. but thats it.
you cannot expect german people to speak english all the time.

celebrate_me_home_2000

I don't know if Germans will love you. They will smell you a mile away and know that you don't speak German as a mother language. Most Germans have an dialect in which they speak their language. They may have to listen to you twice if they have a strong dialect. You may not understand them if they have a strong dialect. Unless the Germans you meet don't like "Auslanders" (you would figure that out quickly), they will not care and may even try to talk to you in English. A lot of Germans like practicing their own language skills. Many Germans speak or have a knowledge of more than one language. If German went to the Gymnasium, he or she normally has to learn 3 languages, and of the three, two would be German and English. All Germans learn some English more or less in school.

I would recommend you speak French to the French people in Paris. If you do try to speak French with them, don't make chop suey out of the language. Before you make Chop Suey of the French language, you'd be better off speaking English. Definitely, pass on speaking German to the Parisians.

Sandy B

no...but they are open to cultures just like americans...you want a mexican talking spanish to you or trying to talk english to you when asking for directions?

1st Lady09

No they hate it you had better buy a shirt that says I love germany or you could end up missing. They understand sign language

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