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I've been saying this for years, we need some educational reform to help integrate into Europe better.
It is infinitely harder to learn a second language after the age of 11, so why are we teaching kids French and German from ages 12 onwards? European schools teach languages from age 5 when language acquisition abilities are much better
TooTallTim-
Most UK private schools start languages at age 5. I agree, needs to be more widespread.
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Foreign language TV with subtitles works really quite well too... that's how us Dutchies pick up languages too.
I think there are online courses with skype too, there's the Rosetta stone. FYI I only got English in Dutch school from 11...but videogames/TV sorted that, and holidays in Austria sorted the German. I hate the grammar though!
But you can get by in many places with just English...it's gotta be part cultural too, people not wanting to move.
Stonehedge
JWestland
I think part of the problem is that a lot of people have a decent standard of English as a second language so it's easier for people to move here whereas there are fewer people in the UK who can take the opportunities in Europe.
Therefore the free movement seems skewed against the UK due to the lack of opportunities (in a large part due to the UK).