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How common is Russian in Eastern Europe? I know there are large Russian speakers in Ukraine and Belarus, what about others?
My experience in E Europe is that although the older generation/s learned Russian in school, you'll get nowhere trying to use that to communicate with them. You'd be better off using English or German, in most places. People turn very cold if you speak Russian to them. In any case, the generations that learned Russian are dying off, and being replaced by younger people learning English. On the other hand, OP, learning a Slavic language, since you seem keen on Polish, would help you middle along in most Slavic-speaking countries, if you get good enough at it.
Funny to see more people (%) able to have a conversation in French in Luxembourg than in France and 86% in Belgium vs 90% in France.
I am not totally surprised.
Many people living here in France for years know only "Bonjour" and "Merci"
A study showed that only 70% of people living in France speak French fluently.
I found that Polish is like the common tongue for Eastern Europe whereas German seems more prevalent on the West part. I am thinking of learning either German or Polish. Which one should I pick up?
Do you want to live in Germany or Poland? I doubt that many people understand Polish outside of Poland or is Polish some kind of Slavic lingua franca? I guess Russian is more prevalent, at least among the older.
I wouldn't learn Polish as long as I don't intend to live in Poland. German is spoken in three countries and should be prevalent in neighboring countries, also many former guestworkers in Greece and Turkey seem to speak German.
The most known languages in France are English or Spanish. German should be third, as few people remember it very well, but then there are hardcore German fans who master it. I honestly don't know if I'd be able to have a conversation in German, usually I understand a bit when people speak but there are many words whose meaning I can't remember. I usually can dechipher what is written because German is like a lego, if you know parts of the words you can rebuild the meaning.
In Italy many people have a passive knowledge of French, much more than French people with Italian I'd say.
I am thinking of learning either German or Polish. Which one should I pick up?
Isn't it obvious that the OP already knows English and is looking for opinions for a second/third language to learn? What's with all the "English" replies?
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