Many years ago I became friends with a guy who had moved to the U.S. from (the former) Yugoslavia as a teenager, and could not speak a word of English when he got here. He was in his early 20s when I met him, and spoke flawless English, with only the slightest hint of a Slavic accent.
He said that what helped him learn the most very quickly was to watch American TV shows during every chance that he got, even if a show was lousy.
Side note: Once I played golf with him at the Inverrary Resort in Ft. Lauderdale. As we walked off the 18th green, Jackie Gleason rode by in his custom-made golf cart (the front had a Cadillac grille on it). I was pretty excited…..“Do you know who that WAS ??....JACKIE GLEASON !!” My (former) Yugoslavian friend just said…..“Yeah…...Wow….”
On the drive home, he turned to me and said:
“Let me ask you something…....Who the hell is Jackie Gleason…..?”