A study examined the oral language skills needed in a second language to communicate effectively with native speakers. The first part of the study is an analysis of the concept of oral intercultural communication proficiency, particularly as an objective of language instruction. The second part of the study consisted of a survey of native speakers of English and German, and comparison of this data with earlier research on intercultural communication of Finns with Swedes in Swedish. Results (written partly in German) indicate that Finns have rather good grammatical competence in both English and German. Difficulties in communication in these languages are due to limited vocabulary, and in German additionally by slowness and clumsiness of Finns' speech. Finns do not lack empathy or friendliness, necessary elements in intercultural communication, but the monotonous conversation pattern typical of Finns may suggest lack of enthusiasm to German interlocutors. The Germans also pointed out that Finns do not know polite German language usage. The English-speakers tended to show more tolerance. These findings and those of the earlier Swedish study suggest that Finns' greatest foreign language communication dilemma is related to cultural communication patterns transferred to intercultural communication. (MSE)