@stux my primary school didn't offer languages, my parents dont speak another language, and I didn't know many people who spoke Spanish growing up. I had the same number of neighbors who spoke Spanish as I did who spoke Dutch (1). First time I was offered a Spanish class wash 9th grade, and the school's Spanish program was very bad.
I'm now working on self study, but still very hard when I don't have anyone to speak it with. I can read it decently though.