I loved English from the first day we learned it at school (age 13)!It sounds great , and it is really much easier than other languages like French or German !! The grammar is simple , compared to French ; example the verb "to give"

--> French : Je donne , tu donnes , il donne , nous donnons , vous donnez , ils donnent .
--> English : I give , you give , he gives , we give , you give , they give .

Clear , isn't it !!

When I learn a new language , I try to speak it as much as possible . I also read books in their original language ! I am also NOT afraid to make mistakes ,(he he). When we moved to the USA for 2 years in '83 , I was glad I could communicate with the people around me ! They said I spoke English really well , and also that I had a funny accent .
ha ha , I am still trying to find out what sounds so funny then ... ;.Oh well , I KNOW I make mistakes , but I do not really care ! As long as I can make myself understandable ...

If I need a dictionnary ? Rarely ; when I take one , it is more to look up how a word it is written .

And NO , Americans are NOT selfish nor arrogant !!! I've lived in St.Louis for 2 years , and I still cherish our friends we made then !! When we arrived there , everybody was so helpful and friendly ; I will NEVER forget that !! I LOVE AMERICANS (and I mean it !!) !!!!!!

ps. My advize to everybody who moves to another country : try to learn the local language ASAP ; it is so much easier to communicate and understand the people there , and they all appreciate to hear a "foreigner" speak a few words in their own language !!