Marco - I have worked on oil and gas jobs in (Eastern) Siberia, Atyrau (Kazakhstan), Niger delta (Africa), Western Amazon (Bolivia, Brazil)...... and NO I've never felt the need to learn the local language. Got by with English just fine.
Again you bring in France and Germany. They don't need expats to come and do their jobs. They already have enough unemployed citizens to take care of. They will make it as hard as possible for immigrants to come in and take their jobs UNLESS it's an occupation in demand (skills shortage).
Countries which are in dire need of immigrants and expats will accomodate all sorts. I have known Vietnamese in Australia who have close to zero comprehension of English.
MarcoNandoz-01 wrote
"If you apply for jobs in France / Germany or any of the non-English speaking populations. You are required to learn their language before you’re legible for work there. So there English isn’t really a universal language."
"Had your hubby’s job been in a remote gas drilling company off the Russian coast or somewhere in farthest southern tip of South America where no one spoke a word of English, It would be mandatory for him to speak the language of the natives .And I have seen documentaries on Geology experts from England who had to spend 2 yrs in a town in Chilly where people communicated in Latin among other local tongues."
Wow! this topic is still going strong?
Marco - I have worked on oil and gas jobs in (Eastern) Siberia, Atyrau (Kazakhstan), Niger delta (Africa), Western Amazon (Bolivia, Brazil)...... and NO I've never felt the need to learn the local language. Got by with English just fine.
Again you bring in France and Germany. They don't need expats to come and do their jobs. They already have enough unemployed citizens to take care of. They will make it as hard as possible for immigrants to come in and take their jobs UNLESS it's an occupation in demand (skills shortage).
Countries which are in dire need of immigrants and expats will accomodate all sorts. I have known Vietnamese in Australia who have close to zero comprehension of English.
MarcoNandoz-01 wrote
"If you apply for jobs in France / Germany or any of the non-English speaking populations. You are required to learn their language before you’re legible for work there. So there English isn’t really a universal language."
"Had your hubby’s job been in a remote gas drilling company off the Russian coast or somewhere in farthest southern tip of South America where no one spoke a word of English, It would be mandatory for him to speak the language of the natives .And I have seen documentaries on Geology experts from England who had to spend 2 yrs in a town in Chilly where people communicated in Latin among other local tongues."