French Maybe?

I'm taking French this year instead of choir in school online.  Now, I am very interested in foreign language but I have never learnt a language.  For a while about four years ago I tried to learn French and for about the past year I tried to learn Japanese.  But I have never finished.  It may be because I have never been in an actual class, I have always tried to learn by myself.  Let me tell you, it is hard to learn a language by yourself. First of all there is no one to talk to, and that's what you're learning how to do. Secondly you don't have people watching you progress, so it feels like there is no reason to even be doing it.  When I was learning Japanese do you know how many people I could talk to because of learning Japanese, no one.  Because I live in a small town and absolutely no one knows Japanese except a few Mormons who went on a mission trip to Japan. However, with French it will be different.  I actually know some people who speak French.  So I can actually talk to people.  I really think that is a main reason why Americans don't learn languages.  Because in an ignorant sense, why should we?  We live in a huge country that is only surrounded by two countries.  It isn't uncommon for someone in America to never have to go to another country, or even think about it.  In Europe all the countries are quite close and its almost like going from state to state in America.  So there really doesn't seem to be a reason for Americans to know other languages if they aren't going to travel.  I am going to travel, a lot, so that's why I should learn some common languages. I personally think everyone should know at least two languages, but that just isn't going to happen with some people.  Like my mom for instance, she has only to been to Canada and they mostly speak English.  I don't think my mom is ever going to go to another country so why would she need to know a language.  I don't know.  So the question of the day is..

Why should someone know another language, other than their own?