Navigating international airports. any insight?

I really want to go to Europe but I have bad navigation issues when it comes to airports. I've been in airports before, but i just don't get where to go from check in to the gate. Anyways, if i would go to italy, france, greece, switzerland, places like that, would airport employees be able to direct me in english? im just afraid ill miss my flight because i don't understand their language. are airport employees required to know english? just curious, i want to be prepared when i go.