[Steve PH]

The classic English attitude to foreign languages is "if Johnny foreigner doesn't understand, just speak louder!"

Okay in all seriousness that's fairly low but over here in the land of warm beer and Lucas electrics we really are bad when it comes to learning languages. Partly its laziness, most people I have ever met from all over the planet mysteriously speak English (I like to think of that as Star Trek syndrome) and also in our education system a second language isn't taught until about the age of 12 or 13. For best results you really need to start teaching an alternative language at a much younger age.

On a personal level I can throw a couple of words together in French or Italian to cope with going to the pub/shop ("Un biere sil'vous plait!"), sadly that's about it.