This is interesting as I live in France and while I think most of France fully expects you to speak french (and rightly so) I live in a town that has a very big English community. I have had it too easy to just speak english becuase I am surrounded by them.

I think if I had been forced to speak french by only being surrounded by French people I would be wable to speak it better by now.

I do find learning languages really hard. but it's the price I pay for getting to live in a beautiful place.