English is actually one of the hardest languages to pick up if you're not a native speaker. It was probably easier for you if you learn it growing up, as younger people pick up languages a lot more quickly. Asking somebody aged 28 to pick it up is a big task though.
I'm 34 and picking up another language in no time. Or not
No idea if this is universal, but I find reading and writing reasonably ok, but speaking is a whole other kettle of fish as conversations tend to force you to think much faster than you do when reading or writing.I'd imagine this is especially so with a strong regional dialect. Been studying Czech for a year now and still find conversational stuff hard. I can pick up more of what's being said than before, but by the time I've figured out one bit they're off onto something completely different

Most of the Czech folks I know, and the foreign blokes learning Czech with me, all say English is quite easy though (or easier anyway).
Bit off to critisize him for not picking it up though. I mean English players don't exactly have a good rep for learning languages when they go abroad (or even going abroad in the first place). People in glass houses and all.








