Being a Geordie, I can't speak English very well either!
I can just about get by in German (after living in Germany for around eight years mind).
I also did a Spanish course while living in Central America; but I was useless.
Call me old fashioned, but English is the international language. In places like Kosovo, I would see a French soldier conversing with a Kosovan; and they'd both be speaking English.
It does make you lazy!