Great point and mirrors my experience as well. I can speak fairly well, usually can get my point across. But I have a HELL of time understanding their responses. Add to that regional accents and dialects and I'm lost if the conversation goes on for more than a few lines. Frustrating as hell.
Some people have an AMAZING ability to "hear" and comprehend a foreign speaker ... I am clearly not on of these lucky folks. I often tell someone to speak to me as if they're talking to a 7 year old kid. IT WORKS!
But constant work/practice works best. I often try to speak Spanish here in California, but some REFUSE to speak to me in Spanish, instead speaking in their limited and poorly accented English  . I think they sense I'm not really "Fluent" so they resist Spanish in some cases.
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