We all have heard the comment, "I do not have to learn German, because all Germans speak English." I will say to that: "Well, yes, everybody you talked with spoke English, because those were the only ones you could talk to.
The fact is that not all Germans speak English.
English is taught and learned in schools now, but this was not always the case. Many older persons did not learn English and if they had a few semester of High School English their language skills are so rusty, that they do not dare to speak out, less being able to sustain a conversation. They will wait for you to try your German first and then will do their best to help you.
Speak to any spouse of a US nationalized citizen, who has traveled to a German speaking country, hoping to communicate with its people. The hosts will try to dig up their sketchy knowledge of English and the German spouse will translate the topic of the conversation, but the real issues never get transmitted and the conversation remains superficial.
A colleague related the following story:
"My husband wanted to fly into Frankfurt and take the train from the Airport
to Stuttgart where I would pick him up. He could say Bier, danke schön,
Sauerkraut, and Volkswagen none of which seemed very helpful. But I assured
him that at the Frankfurt airport there would be many people who would speak
English and who would help him to get to his destination. I had given him a
list of phrases in German and English, just in case he needed them.
Low and behold, no one answered his questions in English, no one understood what he was asking. He had to rely on the emergency phrases I had given him to get to the right platform of the train station."
People in Eastern Germany hardly speak English. Their second language is Russian.
Business people in key position in International companies will speak English well. They are hired to bring in business. Knowing at least one foreign language is essential in Europe in order to succeed in business. Yet this is not only true in Europe, but also in the USA as mentioned on an other page. Professionals with foreign language skills will receive the high position if two equally qualified technical people apply.
It is also a fact, that young German students speak decent English. They will be eager to talk to you in order to practice their language skills. They want to become fluent, because they know that the command of good English will get them a higher paying job once they start their careers.