We are indeed a bunch of ignorant idiots when it comes to foreign languages. However, I also feel that the level of foreign language teaching offered in the U.K is on average, quite terrible.

I agree it's not good. I did A level French. I don't know what it's like these day but when I studied for it there was too much culture to be learned and not enough speaking. When I got to France and took up a summer job I found that most of the French (I met) knew English anyway, so wondered why I bothered. In fact the only people who could understand me properly when I spoke French were North Africans- well it's a known fact that people who are bad in a language can understand other people who are equally bad better than the original native speakers. And before Mr T starts on me 'my French is not good'........but--could be better than his hahaha! only joking lol.

In short, British people don't really need to speak any other languages. You don't need any Chinese even to do very nicely in China; there's always a long-haired dictionary in the guise of a student willing to escort you. I have had whole groups of them fighting for who holds my hand walking around town. It's a pity there aren't more short-haired dictionaries among our students, but it's the girls who are the most gifted in English learning.