How does Kevin kline speak french so well?

Answer 1

Kline: I studied French all through high school and junior high school and a year of college but couldn't speak it because you don't - unless you learn to speak it. I learned to read it and learned the grammar, which was a great kind of foundation. But for (the 1995 film) "French Kiss," I had to take lessons with a professor, and we only spoke French, and that's where I really began to learn to speak French with some fluency ... I speak very little French in the movie ("French Kiss"), but it kind of jump-started my learning to speak it, and then this was another occasion to - not perfect - but to go up a notch.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700122938/Kevin-Kline-picks-up-French-Chess-for-Queen-to-Play.html