Germans won't let you practise your German

Does anybody else find that most Germans want to practice their English with you? This is my biggest frustration in German. I have been here one year and completed the B1 Zertifikat and I've been told that my German has really improved (no where near fluent yet). Even though I have improved and can converse at the shops etc. and with my German husband's family (who don't speak English), when Germans hear my English accent, they immediately go into English. I always say 'bitte sprechen Sie Deutsch, ich lerne Deutsch. In most cases they apologize and speak German but the younger Germans are so arrogant and rude because they continue in English. I often say "warum sprechen Sie Englisch, ist mein Deutsch so schlimm?' and they say my German is good but that they want to practice their Englisch. I find it a real disadvantage being English mother tongue. One learns a language much better when they are immersed in it and have to speak it. I have to beg my husband to speak German as well. He speaks more German now but often goes back in to English.
Sometimes I want to say 'gehen Sie nach England zu Englisch sprechen!!!'

Apart from that complaint, ich liebe Deutschland.

Anybody else have the same problem??

When I lived in Trier, I didn't have that problem at all, as there were no other English speakers there, so Germans spoke very little English. Sometimes that made things difficult

The odd time I came across this in other towns, I would persist in speaking German, even if they answered me in English. I do see what you mean, I think Germans have a good standard of English as opposed to Spanish or Italian, so it is easier for them to converse in English. Is this a disadvantage, I'm not sure! It can be handy, when you have no other way of explaining yourself in German, you can throw in the odd English word and they will understand. Hardly a disadvantage.

If you just accept that they too want to improve or practice their foreign languages. Give and take. Keep answering in German and eventually they will probably lapse into their own native language, as is more convenient. Don't take it personally, your German is obviously a good standard at B1. If someone asks me for directions at home and I detect a foreign accent, I would jump at the chance at explaining in their language so I can practice! Just be persistent!

Frustrating. I have been here for eons and still find that Germans break into English. I have to listen to rubbish English often enough as part of my work - which I love, so not complaining there. I do not want to have to do so in my free time. How often, sitting in a pub, some Kraut interrupts and thinks you are there just to give him/her a free English lesson.

Ahhh don't get me started....

Tell them you are happy to offer English conversation lessons. Don't accept less than €18 per hour.

Hi Shirley,

I get that sometimes as well. I suppose one way to go about it is to keep answering in German, even if they start with English. Also have a look at the events and meetups page from time to time to see whether anything "strictly German" is planned in your area. I heard some native English speakers suggest "all German" events to practice. You definitely aren't the only one who has made this observation!

Janine in Stuttgart

No longer....

What I found to be difficult is if you have people to whom you sometimes speak in English (like maybe at work) and then try to switch to German (maybe socially). I found its best to speak German-only and as you say if they switch to English then request that they switch back. I am active in a local gliding club & we speak only German - unless an English-speaking visitor comes by & then I get rolled out to communicate. At the club I'm with members from 14 to 80+ and none of them try to switch to English...

This is very true. Try gaining a new circle of friends outside of family & work - I did & it worked wonders (in many senses)....

It doesn't really work:
"Ach reely sö u get how many money an Hower?", as the fecking mule continues with his/her crap English.

I find the best way is to continue to speak German to them even if they are speaking to you in english, they soon give up!

You could pretend not to understand their English...

Make up words and tell them they're real. My brother used to tell Germans at his office that a walk around the Englischer Garten lakes at lunchtime was 'circumcising the lake', and that the collecting of wristwatches was called 'uhrology'. Someone in my previous office told them that careless use of a screwdriver to badly assemble something was 'screwing around'.

Either the German is smart or has a sense of humour and will notice you're taking the piss and leave you alone, or you can amuse yourself as your made up words become commonplace in your office.

Been there, done that. When I was first in Germnay many, many years ago I was studying in Osnabrück, which is the British occupied zone. People would hear my accent and assume I was a squaddie and immediately switch to english. I countered that by making sure I always replied in German and, if they still didnt get it by refusing to understand the english.

Nowadays its no longer a problem - My accent is good enough for me not to be immediately pinned down as a Brit and anyone who knows me knows I only ever speak German so i dont gte this any more. My new Boss seems to have an annoying desire to speak english with me ,. but Ive onylö had him on the phone so far - He'll learn.

andy M.

Be equally arrogant and tell them you dont understand them when they speak english...its a bit harsh but it ought to put them in their place

Ahh i see i was beat on that one..but good all the same

Haha yes. The women at the little gift shop in our village asked my husband if I would teach her English. I really don't mind so much seeing as I worked as a teaching aid, teaching ESL and ENNL in America, but I just find it humorous that I have become the universal English teacher.

Wonder where I went wrong... Really can't remember anyone trying to speak English to me - would have been glad of it actually. On the contrary, even people I knew spoke English never tried even when I was struggling. Maybe you just have a prettier face?

You're British. Even I have trouble understanding half of what Brits say!