I took French because I had to..it's requirement in many Canadian schools because French and English are official languages in Canada (there is federal legislation...).

Then I had to retake it to cover off a foreign language requirement in order to graduate with my English literature degree at university.

All of this...did result in me learning certain words and phrases which is helpful when in Quebec and France. without feeling overly clueless or at least know the 'gist' for everyday stuff. But no, I'm not gifted in languages. I know this: I need to read and see words in order to learn a foreign language.

Which is why my Chinese language has never expanded. Not that I feel like improving it at this time in life..it doesn't add anything intriscally great ..especially when people I know who speak it live in another province. (Language retention doesn't work well, when speaking it occasionally only with strangers.)

I heard enough German when partner spoke with mother before she died. But I never learned much beyond "thank you", "grandmother", "grandfather", kirschwasser,etc.