"It is true that the there is a much greater incentive for a foreigner to learn English (read: $), than there is for any of us to take on a second language, given that English now approaches the status of lingua franca in commerce and science."

Yes, that's true of adults (learning English or most 2nd languages based on the dollars). A friend of mine really wanted to plant a palm tree in her backyard... she went to a lawn center, paid and was promised delivery via receipt. They delivered the wrong palm and when she tried to communicate with the landscaping crew and owner by phone, she indeed found out that there was a language problem (Spanish-English). I don't know if it's just Florida, but when folks come here from other countries and expect to start a business here, they HAVE to speak and write the language! Florida has government forms that are both in Spanish and English. How people communicate once the forms have been approved is baffling at times*.

* I'm sure it doesn't just pertain to landscaping.

Marcia (I'm for English only, French only, etc... depends on the host country)