I grew up in the Rhine Valley and we had plenty of foreign friends who came to visit us. One day my english speaking friend tried to walk from Heerbrugg to Altstätten (10km). He didn't have a mobile phone on him and tried to ask the people on the street for directions.

He told me most were just waving him off when he started talking in english. Some told him 'no english sry' and one out of 20 persons or so could actually help him to find the address.

That being said, most people aren't exposed to english at all and thus don't feel comfortable talking. It's different in the city but in the rural areas you have to be really lucky to find someone who speaks english. I remember I met an Irish guy once in a pub in Rheineck and he was so happy he could talk to someone lol, made my day.