[petodo]

> Honestly only place where you need to speak local language is communication with gov officials

That's what I wrote. But how often you deal with gov officials and various forms, on average once or twice a year? Is it worth learning whole new language to fill bunch of forms, which can be filled with help of friend within few minutes?

Btw. officials are not allowed LEGALLY communicate with you in other than official language (in letters, official forms). In spoken language it's their word against your word in case of argument, so there is no reason (other than being lazy) to not hold informal communication in English, if the official is nice/welcoming person (and it's actually required in some positions with foreigners, despite legal documents being only in local language).

[anthk]

>which can be filled with help of friend within few minutes?

Good luck with Spanish and French tax-related forms. In case of Spain, the documents are full of legalese jargon not even a native can grasp it at 100% without a gov website in an aside tab reading twice or trice the legal terms.

[petodo]

> Good luck with Spanish and French tax-related forms. In case of Spain, the documents are full of legalese jargon not even a native can grasp it at 100% without a gov website in an aside tab reading twice or trice the legal terms.

So you say one more reason not even bother trying to learn language for this reason, since you stand no chance if even native speaker can't understand it.

[anthk]

No, it's a reason to talk to a native speaker in its own language to get understood well in order to avoid hard mistakes.