“BTW, Russians are also often language challenged for the same reason. Anywhere they go, everyone speaks Russian”
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In 19-th century in Russia every noble/respected family tought their children French. At this time French was the language of international comminication. So, they spoke 2 languages.
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Most of people from former Soviet Union know/can understand at least 3 languages:
1 – language of the repablic, they were born/rised (Ukrainian/Georgian/Tukmenian and so on)
2 – Russian, because of the government’ requirement to speak/learn Russian
3- English or French or German everyone had to learn as a subject in a school
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Also, why nobody surprised, that Mordechay spoke /understood all languages?