When I meet new people, I often get asked the usual ‘let's-get-acquainted' question of what I do for a living, to which I reply: "I teach French". Then, 8 times out of 10, my new friend replies with a heartfelt cry and slightly high pitched voice, "Oh I LOVE France, I LOVE the French language, it sounds SO beautiful, Paris is SO romantic, I really wish I could speak French, that's one of my biggest regrets." Once their lamentation has come to an end, I reply with a big smile,

There are so many positives that come from learning a foreign language...