I would like to touch on the question of learning the official language of a country by it's immigrants (yes, that was the question which we were supposed to discuss on October but better late than never;)).
In my opinion the ability to speak a local language is absolutely necessary to live in a chosen place (unless you can afford an interpreter).
I can't imagine to live in some country and not to know even the basic words or expressions. I think the acquaintance with language allow us to feel at home. It really facilitates our life abroad especially when it comes to go through the formalities in the different institutions, when you have to visit the doctor or simply when you want to make new friends.
Otherwise I think that if we want to settle in another country, we should integrate with local community and respect it's laws, traditions, culture and then also the language.
