During my high school days, in east of France, German was the "natural" second required language course.
But, despite many german speaking familly members, I never really used it/liked it. So, now, about the only thing I can say is "Entschuldigung, aber ich can nicht gut deutsch sprechen" ......
The other branch of my family came from Italy, but I never learned italian.
As a third language, later on, I choose English. Because.... I guess because it was the years of the Beattles and all you heard on the french radios were these english speaking singers....
And after high school, I kept English as my second language, while studying electronics.
The other students were not really interested in learning english, even if most of the components manufacturers' technical instructions were in that language....

Two years later, when applying for a job, apart from electronics, the mandatory demand was the ability to understand english, as the training was to be held in Germany (with english speaking instructors) or in the USA.
Among the dozen or so applicants, I was choosen : sure enough, some were better in electronics than I was, but they were unable to read a simple text in english.
And I then had the chance to spend three stays in Minneapolis, working for Control Data Corp.

When in Minneapolis, I had the pleasure of meeting a charming woman, whose mother was from french extraction. So we spend some time speaking about french history (making myself shamefull of not being more knowledgeable in that matter ...), among other things (on which I will NOT expand .... <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> )

During a short trip (at that time, US dollar was twice its present value, vs french franc ...) on the west coast, I had the opportunity to discuss french poetry with a Taco Bell employee ....
I also spend a nice evening, chatting with an american family, around a camp fire, in the Yosemite Park.

And right now, I am able to participate on this forum (even if I don't understand everything ... <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />).

All that, because one of my english teacher in high school had the good idea, in order to arouse our interest, to make us translate Leonard Cohen's songs !!!
I had no idea at that time, it would enable me to meet half of the world. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I like many in the UK had to choose our subject options in our third of high school ( 11-16). I loved the sciences, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, I also knew at the time that I could get a bit overloaded so I chose French as an option to break up the routine. On the first day of my return to school my first class was French. I entered the class and straight away the teacher dismissed me as being inept to learn a foreign language.

I thought no more about it until a few years later at University I met a French girl, we became an item and after a few years we married. We were married in France and at that time my level of French was below basic, enough to say "Oui" to the priest. Well 5 years later on I'm working for a large international company where the conversation is in French, most of my correspondance is in English with Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian just to break up the monotony.

Did my schooling help me later, maybe yes maybe no, but thanks to learning another language has opened many doors. In professional terms dealing with foreign colleagues, I can always find one language as a common denominator to aid both communication and understanding.

I really wish I could go back to meet up with that French teacher, I know phrases now that would never be taught in Class <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

On Education, one quote from a former university professor whom I deeply respected and admired "Your degree only shows that you have the capacity to think". Some people can do an arts degree and think they can only do art, I did manufacturing, but since I've been a programmer, mechanical, I&E instrument, an electrical engineer and now an international sales engineer. Thanks to my education and the fact that this prof at least believed we are capable of doing anything we put our minds to.