YOUR report of a visit to Blessed Edward Oldcorne High School of German teachers of English (Evening News, October 23) seems to emphasise the futility of trying to learn German.

For no particular reason, I attended evening classes in German for nearly eight years. Since then, almost every German I've met has wanted to practise English on me.

During a frustrating snowbound week in Austria, whenever I ordered in German, the hotel staff repeated my order in English. On the last day I took a stroll in the park.

A lady was walking her dog, which ran towards me and jumped up on me. This was my big chance. "Der hunde ist sehr freundlich," I commented. "Yes he is a very friendly dog," came the reply.

JOHN G HINTON, Worcester.