Yes, I've had similar experiences to you, Fishy and James, for instance when I've spoken Greek in Greece - the thing is, I'm quite a way beyond the Hello-and-Thankyou level of the vast majority of fellow Brits Abroad (and I'm not criticising them for it, even as they almost always get the stresses in pronunciation wrong), and once that's clear to a Greek native they seem to presume I'm fluent and will rattle off rapid-fire sentences back to me in their own tongue, and I'll be lucky if I fully understand half of it.
Of course, I take it as a compliment, and I politely say in Greek, "Sorry, I speak very little Greek, I'm English(man)". Usually this prompts a great deal of praise, particularly about my pronunciation, and it's always a massive buzz for me when that happens.
Of course, I take it as a compliment, and I politely say in Greek, "Sorry, I speak very little Greek, I'm English(man)". Usually this prompts a great deal of praise, particularly about my pronunciation, and it's always a massive buzz for me when that happens.