Learned Latin in high school, which helped with college French, which was not the best choice, since I should have studied Spanish, living as I do in the Western Hemisphere.

While in the military, I learned to say in Korean, "Stop or I'll shoot" not fluent, but pragmatic....I spent some R&R time in Japan, speaking only elementary phrases, but most Japanese were anxious to practice their English.

An important consideration is how to communicate when knowing nothing of the native language. Working and living with Navajo and Hopi in Arizona, I found that a positive attitude, a smile and receptive attitude, and inventive use of sign language worked surprisingly well.