Sounds like you could have learned a bit more had you not been so caught up in the symantics
.
I've had MANY similar situations such as this. I did a course in theoretical mathematics with a chineese prof. who knew almost no english at all but I swear to you that in one semester with him I learned FAR MORE than in any other class - bar none.
Language is what you make of it - education is no different. I found that a language barrier forced me to take more into my own hands and to develop a more refined skillset on which to base our comminications.
Well .. I guess my experiences were kinda 180' to yours