English is, becoming the international language.
I am teaching English conversation to Slovaks, and also
have 5 French, one Italian executive, and one Korean, all living here in Bratislava.
In the Communist days, English was discouraged and not offered in normal schools. German was the only western language available, as it was the business language, and
the Communist held East Germany.
It is hard to find people over 30 in these countries that
can speak any English, but most all children are learning.
I might note, my French students are the worst with their
knowledge of English.