[bjoli]

I think something changed culturally as well. When my parents grew up any moderately educated person was expected to speak different several different languages.

Very few in my generation speak three languages, even in my rather international field. Yet my older colleagues speak french, German and Spanish like it is nothing. And my international colleagues often speak 4+ languages.

I am fine with English being a de facto Lingua Franca, but I can't help feeling something has been lost.

[type0]

Speaking and using professionally is not the same. One of my friends speaks 6-7 languages, but can't use most of those for work, it's better to know 2 sufficiently well than imagining yourself being a polyglot.

[bjoli]

Sure, but personally I am very happy for both my English and my German as it gives me access to culture I would not otherwise be able to enjoy.

I have always been curious about French internet culture as well. It seems like the French internet is a bubble I will never have access to.