rackindos

I started in early elementary. However, I went to a school with a US curriculum, so I was able to turn out to become a near-native level speaker. Too bad my mother tongue suffered as a result, though.

It happens when the language is used not as a primary language, but more as a secondary language or for show. For example, you're in a country that isn't an English-speaking country, and you see plenty of English usage all over the place, like the menu, or random books. Sometimes there isn't much of a consideration into whether the English is properly used or not, because maybe there isn't much emphasis on whether it's correct, but there's more emphasis on whether it's used or not. Sometimes it bothers me, but other times, I just let it go.

I'm in your boat as well. I took French throughout middle and high school, and have not studied it since then. To my experience, I've found a combination of iOS app and a full-blown website to help the best. The iOS app in question is called Duolingo, and it's free with no in-app purchases - at least, none I can see. The website is http://apprendre.tv5monde.com/ - it's run by TV5, a global French language cable TV channel, and I found it to be sufficiently challenging, yet triggering my old knowledge back to the forefront. Hope this helps!

I'm interested. I'm not in a position where I can easily take French courses, so for the time being, I'm doing self-study until the conditions for courses or face-to-face practice manifest. I'm also using Duolingo for iOS, and that's also been helpful to date. Plus, it's free!

It definitely won't be something I will use for any kind of work, no matter how minute or insignificant the work would be. It's something I'll only use for myself when I'm looking up something to satisfy my own curiosity. Granted, machines are always getting better, and software is always becoming more and more sophisticated. However, language is never 100% logical. I don't think machines will easily be able to overcome that hurdle soon enough.

As far as I know, all standardized exams administered by ETS are good for only two years. The TOEIC is not very representative of one's English skills. In fact, in Korea, there are many places where teachers have analyzed the exam and looked for strategies to boost a test-taker's score instead of the test-taker's English skills. It is of my opinion that the pricier TOEFL exam is much more representative, as it covers all usages of the language: speaking, listening, reading, writing. You really have to do everything to show that you are good at the language.