I studied in a language class at school... but I never had any real-life communication. I'm not sure if you can say that a person knows English without it.
Here's a joke on the topic:
English lesson in a rural school:
- Vasya, how do you say "door" in English?
- I don't know...
- Sit down. Two. Kolya, how do you say "door" in English?
- I don't know either...
- You too, sit down... Petya, how do you say "door" in English?
- Dwear!
- That's it!! :D
But English is a very important language. It will be very useful abroad.