Has anyone here ever tried learning Esperanto to help in their language studies?

[leland.kirk]

I wasn't sure if this belonged here or in 'off topic', but I came across a few things about Esperanto that I thought was interesting. It's apparently quick and simple to learn, and can have the (albeit anecdotal) effect of 'springboarding' your study of languages by increasing confidence and helping you learn 'how to learn' other languages.
It's a constructed language from the 1880s, initially intended for people to use when they come from two different nations who don't share a language.

Here's a TEDx Talk about it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gSAkUOElsg

A Wikipedia page on the springboarding aspect:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaedeut..._Esperanto

A Freakanomics episode about it:
http://freakonomics.com/podcast/why-lear...l-feature/

A Duolingo course:
https://www.duolingo.com/course/eo/en/Le...nto-Online



Let me know what you guys think!