The poll, which was commissioned by the British Council and surveyed 1,768 UK adults, found that 46% admit they have been embarrassed at being unable to speak the local language.

Some 45% said they rely on the assumption that everyone will speak English in the country they are visiting and 29% said they have been too scared to even try speaking in the local language.

Around one in six said they can speak a foreign language to a high standard and 37% said they can hold a basic conversation in another tongue.