And why is that?? I understand the older generation....but the younger? Please do tell! Though actually recently I am finding more French people who speak English so I think this is changing.
I lived for a long time near Paris, and it's obvious that people try to speak english. But as it's not used in their everyday life, they don't try to improve it.
On the other side (you know that France is splitted between Paris, and the other part of France, called "La province"... It could be a joke, but it's more likely the sad truth), "en province", very few speak english (or practice enough not to forget). And younger too.
It seems crazy but I surely don't tell something crazy
To answer the question "Why?" : I think the french people is very proud of his native tongue. The french government promotes it through many rules like quotas (is it the word in english?) to the radio. I mean : the french radios have to broadcast 40% of french songs (songs sung in french)...
I work for more than 16 years now, and in every firm I was, barely none could speak english... And was proud of it...
Can you imagine another country with such a mentality ?