When still in my early teens, I was staying in a French family, none of whom except my French opposite number spoke more than rudimentary English. I learned my French the way the cat learned to swim . . .

It was a bit rough in places, especially at first, but it didn't half improve my French. I just wish I'd been able to do that for German as well, but it was still a bit close to World War II for that to happen then. Another 5 years would have made all the difference.