Learning other languages

I'm always apalled by the attitude British people have to learning other languages. I love to be able to communicate in the language of the country I am visiting, even if it is just to say please and thank-you. Many people seem to think that the rest of the world should learn English and we don't need to bother. I'm always impressed by people from Holland, for example, who use English as a language when they visit other countries because they know that so few people try to learn their language.