Maybe they forgot what they learned at school, Jvb? Without regular practise every language is forgotten. And I need to know the education lvl of these people and their age to know. All schools teach English (we have a 3-way-system) - but at high school you can choose after a while to go the science/maths way.
Where they from former East Germany? Then it's historical, their language was Russian until the Reunion 1989.
And here I agree with you, it has become voluntary under certain circumstances from class 10-13, but from class 6-9 it's not voluntary. And a project done in some kindergartens and basic schools tend to teach English even earlier. This is something I support strongly. The younger a person is => multi-lingualism is easier.
So, I think you and I need more facts and details now, hm?
Kiya
Take me: I learned Spanish (1 1/2-6 yrs old) as a kid in Uruguay and spoke it fluently. Forgot it, but it's still slumbering in my brain. I tried to find access to that part by private lessons = no success, the adult way of learning does not trigger this brain part. A Spanish friend told me my pronounciation was very good and native, she wanted to teach me the intuitive way - but then she died suddenly <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/puppyeyes.gif" alt="" /> - due to my chats with Shyon, who gave me Portuguese words, suddenly words come back now. I understand a lot and even use Spanish words in my everyday language without knowing. I guess a stay in Spain for about 3-6 months would trigger.
Last update:
From this year on elementary schools in Germany/North-Rhine Westphalia teach English from the 3rd class on - not voluntary but per law. Prob is this: Education is decided by the states we have. Our school system is not on federal level, so every state can decide on its own.
