But think about your own encounters with foreigners. Would you rather hear them talking at you in something you didn't understand or talking to you in English? Of course the latter.
And when it comes from the right lips, a foreigner speaking your language is something...beautiful, exotic, sexy, mysterious.
It's the same with people who speak other languages, at least in Europe.
It's probably more attractive in fact.
After all, English tends to be the default language, the language people use as the path of least resistance regardless of nationality.
So when a 'local' hears their own language being spoken it comes as a pleasant surprise in most situations.
It also makes you look smart, as most people believe their language is the 'most difficult'.
Europeans have more experience learning languages than most English speakers. They are therefore better able to appreciate the effort it takes. And believe me, it does take a lot of effort.
Even saying please and thank you or similar common phrases will please most locals.
On top of that, Despite what people think, not everyone in the world speaks English. Speaking a local language will allow you to talk to far more people than if you merely use English. Many people simply WONT talk to you if you speak English, because they CANT.
Caveat: It's true that some people in Europe will change to English if you start speaking their language: this is because language is primarily a tool humans use to communicate. If their English is better than your FRench/German/Basque/what
But once you've attained a proficiency so that you're better at your target language than the people you meet, they usually appreciate it.
Speaking a foreign language is fun and will nearly always open gates for you.
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