"Fala com ...." does sound vaguely like the word the BBC reporter thought he'd heard. An understandable mistake for a non-Portuguese speaker.
As a journalist he should have checked before publishing such an aggravating statement. If that "poor, ignorant news reporter" had been to Portugal recently he would have learnt that most portuguese, although understanding perfectly the English language, usually respond in Portuguese. I do and all my acquaintances do.
Even though I use English daily as my working language when communicating with colleagues from all around the world, I will never use it when addressed in the Algarve by ex-pats or tourists. It is my duty and obligation to make you'll understand that if you come here, or in particular if you live here, you have to learn how to address us, indigenous.
Portuguese journalists doing pieces abroad are chosen according to their mastery of the language. There would never be a journalist sent to Britain without knowing to understand and speak English.
I am not calling the Briton ignorant I am simply stating that in general, and in particular the press people are poorly educated about other cultures.
