I've been here for about 9 months and just recently started taking a Deutsch Kurs. I like it and now generally have a clue what my colleauges are talking about when they speak in German. Yes, I would like to learn the language but as I am a scientist and English is the language of research everybody I work with speaks perfect English cause they use it on a daily basis all day long. It's hard to get to the point where you could reallly have a conversation in German when I can't initially get my point across speaking to people who speak my language perfectly. In addition, I'm only here for 2 years and I work 12-14 sometimes 16 hours a day and honestly, after 70-80 hour work weeks studying german isn't what I want to do with my free time.

When I'm out and about I try and use my Deutsch but usually whenever they hear my accent they automatically switch to English. If they don't switch to English I almost always have to repeat myself about 4 times, which makes me feel like a f--king moron.

I really don't understand it though. Particularly in German speaking countries if you don't say a word almost perfect, they often don't understand you. I spend all day long listening to people speak English with very heavy accents and I understand everyone. Am I just used to it and the people here aren't used to hearing they're language spoken with an accent by foreigners?

My spanish is pretty bad but I can get by without using English is necessary, albeit in broken spanish but I never get that same feeling from native Spanish speakers. They usually understand what I say first time. I dunno, maybe my accent is just better?