I think you're native English and have the associated bias concerning how it works in practice? Since kids first learn their native language ( write, read and

I think you're native English and have the associated bias concerning how it works in practice? Since kids first learn their native language ( write, read and speak) in school and only years after then ( mostly), learn foreign languages. When they learned to do it in their native language, they hear English spoken on tv with eg. Dutch subtitles and pick it up. Sometimes before they have English lessons. Most kids, as such, know a fair amount of English before they have it ( = English) in school. The Dutch subtitles isn't always a requirement though. Kids will pick it up in some shows, eg. Pokemon would be a good example if English spoken.