Some of our backpackers have come to Canada to improve their English skills. The formation of the European Union has addeded impetus to learn English as a logical common language.
So we get a lot of Europeans coming here to travel and practice English.
However, not so many Dutch or German backpackers come here for that reason. The majority (virtually all of them) speak excellent English.
And we make allowance for that. About six of our staff members are fluent Francophones. In fact, all of our staff members have a facility with a second language, (The only exceptions are our Irish staff membersmost of whom are still working on English, it seems!).
We can help our guests with French, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese and even Afrikaans. We could manage Dutch and German too; however, I can’t recall that ever being necessary; the Germans and Dutch all speak excellent English.
There is a great temptation for a lot of backpackers who aren’t as fluent with English to retreat to what is culturally and linguisticly familiar.
Spanish seek fellow Spanish; the French congregate; Japanese only interact with other Japanese etc. The result is the majority make little progress towards their stated goal of improving English skills.
So often a gloden opportunity is often squandered.