Unfortunately US schools only make learning 2nd languages a part of the curriculum after you turn 14, and even then it isnt mandatory. Our local representatives like to pretend we have the best school system in the world.

Being an #American who can only speak #english is absolute hell when you want to be involved in the #foss / #opensource community as everyone I end up talking to for support is either rude to me, thinks I'm dumb as rocks and have never operated a computer, or can't really speak the language well enough themselves to help which, fine I understand, English is hard for me sometimes so being bilingual must be insanely hard, but I really wish it were easier to communicate with people without the assumption you're a dumbass. Its probably part of the reason our movement has so many preferring to never try.