While true, this ignores the actual number of hours spent using the language. 3 years of at most 2h a week lessons, that's around 300 hours. Deal with the langu

While true, this ignores the actual number of hours spent using the language. 3 years of at most 2h a week lessons, that's around 300 hours. Deal with the language 15 hours a day and in 20 days you reach the same 300 hours. Of course actual involvment in the lessons, motivation, effectiveness of being immerged also make going to a speaking country a better deal. About the social role of school, one of the badic goals is to format young people into "standard" citizens who can obey rules and bear authority. Sitting for long hours listening to some adult is part of the process.