For example, the mother of the author during all school years learned the English language. First through fourth grade she studied in a school and to pass to 4 the French language degree students instruian. But his father, i.e. my grandfather, did you study at another school where English learned while that school was located well away from your home and why was necessary each day go there on the bus and it took considerable time. In addition to that my mother was studying English at University for 2 years. However she can translate text in English, more or less understands what you are saying at imgles the Chinese, the Arabs, the Poles i.e. such persons for which English is not the native language. But what about English people (Americans, British, etc), were saying is, for which the native language is English, she not them understood.
For example, listening to any TV channel in English, she understood only a few words (approximately 10 percentages). It was likely that organizing such a program of instruction to end that could not communicate with foreigners. Because before almost all Soviet people didn’t have the possibility to go abroad (except to some people and that part It had various percentages of all Russian people, maybe 1-2%). That time there was the teoln of steel. Some foreigners came to the USSR for purpose of vacation or other causes but the Russian people could not talk to them.
Today day study of the English language in Russia has changed radically. There are special establishments where the corresponding Paice teachers instruct the language. They have put in practice the statement abroad, for example in England. Why the time present the youth of the age 25 and more minors already know how to speak English (on all those who have wanted to study it). However even now I advise those who are willing to travel to Russia, consult the guide of the conversation in that page, then still only the minor part of the Russian people speak English perfectly.