I’m on a motorhome holiday in Norway right now. The younger people I’ve spoken to, from the Netherlands, through Germany and Denmark and into Norway have as good English as me. As with most American-exceptionalism, you ain’t that special. On previous holidays in France, often held up as “never-willingly-speak-English”, we’ve had similar experiences.

Older people here in Northern Europe often seem to speak English quite well, in France less so.

I'm English, my Danish friends have less of an English accent and are considerably more literate than the average of the people I interact with at work over most days.

It isn't a moat, My partners written English surpasses mine and it is her third language.

I, an American, was on a business trip in Sweden then a holiday in Scotland. It was easier to understand the Swedes than the Scots...