Why do people visit China expect to get by with just English?

[Mellisa]

I'm gonna state the obvious since it doesn't seem to be obvious to a lot of people, if you go visit China (mainland), do NOT expect anyone to speak English at an usable level over there, so if you can only speak English, you will have a heck of a time unless you have a guide. I don't know why is that people kept asking if it's doable, where did you get that impression? Chinese people don't bother with English, and yes, I'm aware that the schools teach English but so does our schools which teaches French, and how many of you can speak French at an usable level? I thought it is reasonable to expect Quebecker to speak English, but when I went there around 2000, and went in to A&W (or was it KFC) that nobody speaks English, I had to point to the menu item. Is it too much to ask for the Quebeckers to speak English than to ask the Chinese to speak English?