You might wanna read about my own experience.
I am currently an exchange student in Dover, Ohio. English might looks like a really easy language to pick-up, or even to learn at school. Well you guys are wrong. I was a really good english student back in belgium, I thought I would have hardly any problem here. You will first notice that you listening and comprehension skills are really poor. And believe me, I was good.
Secondly, you notice that all those words like 'hang out, pick up, end up, hang up, head over, come over,...' are really hard to get. It is really confusing. The first thing you wanna do is quitting translating directly from french. You need to pick the language up, you need to start thinking in English! Acquiring the english language basis is really easy, but when it comes to be really accurate and really say what you mean, it's getting harder and harder...
The second thing you notice is your poor speaking skills. Speaking english with the right accent, the right emphasis, the right sound is probably the hardest thing is this language. You need to remember for EVERY word which part of this word you wanna emphase... And if you dont, they wont understand you, believe me. I have had a hard time with it... You also need to remember if this 'a' is pronounced 'a' or 'ai', that kind of stuffs.
But when you start to be able to speak, and when people start telling you that your english is getting really good, you feel proud. English is an awesome language ('awesome' aint no frenchie who can pronounce it correctly! just say Osum)
I dont consider myself as a polygloth yet, but I guess i am on my way... I still need to learn a lot of stuffs... To know when using 'do you mind' or 'do you care', learning to put the emphasis on the right part, those verb with 2 parts (hang up, hang out, hang over,...)
Jackson Randy Rhoads 5 Ivory --> Randall RG50TC