[pllbnk]

Well, let's take the Netherlands or Scandinavian countries as example. Their languages are alive and well, yet temporary work immigrants can live fully functional lives with speaking only English. Europe will be held back economically as long as there are communication obstacles.

Anecdotally, English is the only foreign language I know well enough to communicate fluently. Suppose I received a job offer from Germany and decided to migrate. Should I start learning German along with learning at a new job and other obligations, keeping in mind I will probably switch jobs again in a few years? What's next - French or Italian?

Language should serve the people, not the other way around.

[lores]

I'm glad you bring that example, because I was in fact an immigrant in the Netherlands for several years. Do people speak English? Many do. Will they speak English by default? No. They are obviously more comfortable in Dutch than they are in English, and anything not directly addressed to me was said in Dutch, at work and with local friends. Many people do, in fact, not speak enough English to communicate effectively. Official documents are in Dutch. That made not knowing Dutch very difficult.

I didn't think it was them being stubborn, just me being ignorant, because I don't think I am the center of the universe. Yes, am immigrant to Germany should absolutely learn German. Countries and their people are not the backdrop for someone's main character complex.

[pllbnk]

Most of the time for bureaucratic legalese you would need a local specialist either way, even if the documents were written in English because you need to know local laws (or where to look them up) also. Going back to the Netherlands example, I think that's a totally reasonable behavior on their part, yet never has been an issue to me not knowing Dutch, nor has been an issue to me not knowing Danish in Denmark. But for regular daily activities - Uber, restaurant, healthcare - communication is fluent and that's what matters for those living there temporary.