Today at the work i had an englisch customer on the telephone. At first I couldn't speak anything but after once minutes it would better. In my luck he could speak a bit german and i explain him the problems in his (DSL-)line. Then i told him, that i must send a technican to him and he ask me if the technican perhaps can speak Englisch. I reply him, that i couldn't promise this. Then i booked the term for him and we terminate the meeting. That's was a very new experience for me and my boss must laugh while the meeting but he said after, that's normal.^^
I think the reason is we rarely use Englisch. The best Avalibility is an english board or an english letterfriend in the internet when you don't afford holiday in an englischspoken country like Great Britain.