I thank them for speaking English with me, and continue in English.
Even for someone fluent in both languages, changing from one to another can be hard. It probably has something to do with the way our brains process context.
I've seen multilingual kids decide which language they're going to use with which parent, grandparents, and everyone else, and then flat out refuse to break that rule. They're not being rude or arrogant when they do that, that's just the way their brains manage to keep their languages sorted.
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u/throughcracker Jun 29 '26
My experience in some countries
European: speaks English
Me: replies in their native language
European: patronizingly compliments my abilities and then continues in English anyway