First notebook entry: Introducing myself

First notebook entry: Introducing myself

I wonder how hard the English language is. Does it matter if I had to live in an English speaking country that I can speak it perfectly or can I just live in my place and take a class?

It isn't neccessary to speak English perfectly to survive in an English speaking country. Here in the US, most large cities have a section called Chinatown.  Most of the residents speak Chinese as their native - and sometimes only - language.  Speaking the native language is required to assimilate into the rest of society.  The better your English, the better off you will be.  Those who only know Chinese live and work in the area and don't have much opportunity beyond that neighborhood.  I learned more German in the three weeks I was there than in the six months of listening to CDs preparing for the trip.  The same with Spanish.  I haven't done so well with Mandarin, though.  It is very different from English.