frustrateddave said
A little knowledge is dangerous.
A little knowledge can be dangerous, and it can also save your life sometimes.

frustrateddave said
What percentage of people in English speaking countries have learnt another language at school and become good enough to get by in most everyday situations? Now compare that to Japan and people who can do the same in english. There was one second language class in my final year at school which had 20 students in it out of 400 students in my grade. Where as at least Japan makes English compulsory across the board, so even though the methods may not be ideal they are still way a head of English speaking countries when it comes to learning a second language at school.
It would depend on the school. As Godemperorleto said, some people do actually learn foreign languages and are able to use them. Unfortunately in Japan, the percentage is small and some of it has to do with the methods used to teach the languages and the way the users of those languages (foreginers) are portrayed in Japan.