It’s definitely true that you lose it, but I think equally true that if you learn it, it will come back. I was fortunate enough to have French lessons from a young age through my first year of college. After finishing the requirement for my University, I quit French for the next four years until I decided to study French history in graduate school. It was difficult at first, but it came back.

There is an app for mobile devices called “Tunein FM” that lets you listen to radio programs broadcast anywhere in the world.  Of course this eats up streaming data on your data plan, but if you’re in wifi range it’s no issue.  The timing is just right too, because normal work hours where I live are the middle of the night in Japan, so in the evening I can listen to morning talk shows.  Of course, being a beginner, I have no idea what they are saying!!!