> it's strange to indicate that one is learning a language to participate in a market which is a subset of all social interactions. Is it really? I'm sure it's

> it's strange to indicate that one is learning a language to participate in a market which is a subset of all social interactions. Is it really? I'm sure it's strange to you - as a native English speaker, there is no language that would offer you significant new opportunities. However I've never met a Czech person who doesn't learn English because of the market (academic/job/business opportunities) - as I said, this purpose is frequently highlighted from the youngest age (I was 4 when I was first told I need to learn English because of my future job). Also consider that until 1989 our borders were closed - meaning WE couldn't travel. It has became perfectly normal during the past 90 years to participate socially only within our own culture (and language).