That really is the key to mastering a language. When English is the first language you think in... and speak in your sleep 😅 Where in Europe are you? I know in the Netherlands and some areas in Belgium, British TV was available on cable which many people learnt English from.
I will never forget, when I did my training as an ESL teacher, one of the lecturers did our first lecture in Japanese so we could experience what it is like to not be able to understand, but also to see how easy it is to start learning basic phrases. I remember that experience to this day, was a powerful way to make a point. I still remember those basic Japanese words to this day!