There is more to knowing a second language than just the possibility of carrying on a conversation with someone who doesn't speak English. There is more than just the possibility of travel to exotic places and being able to mingle with the locals.
Learning a second language offers an amazing glimpse into the way people in other cultures think and process information. It has the side effect of knocking the learner out of the center of the universe. We discover that it is okay that someone else has a different way of looking at things. It is a fascinating and delightful experience to see the world from someone else's perspective. Learning a second language makes this possible.
