Why don't you learn a new language? Same or more intellectual stimulation and probably more useful to you.
Pretty tough to do outside of a few ethnic neighborhoods. I wish my French were still as good as it was in college. Good luck maintaining that in Memphis.
Well he can buy a Rosetta Stone or whatever for whichever language he's interested in and just spend an hour or so a day on that. Though yeah, it's hard to really become fluent (at least in speaking/writing; listening/reading is doable) unless you live in an area where the language is common.