The best way to learn a foreign language is with native speakers – lots of real conversations with real people! In reality we speak a lot differently to the way someone might formally learn the language. That is why when you get the chance to practice what you know, you get puzzled looks or it seems as though everyone is speaking twice as fast as normal and you can only catch a few well worn phrases. You do get better from constant practice and if you can immerse yourself in the foreign language naturally for a length of time – even better!
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Hey that’s not surprising – English is a germanic language. In fact, the closest to English you might hear is Frisian. I did German at Uni and fortunately a German xchange student taught me how to sound more natural for my spoken exam. Haha, blew the lecturer away!
Sitting in Spier am Rhine durning my stay in Germany I suddenly found that I understood what was being said without relalising the language was German rather than English. Mind, when I later gained the confidence to try my basic German in the shops & bars my accent gave me away as they always repiled back in English!