You learn many things in situations not directly related to that skill you were trying to improve. Here's why: Fertile Models.

You learn many things in situations not directly related to that skill you were trying to improve.
Here's why:
Fertile Models.

This is where in many different situations you're brain automatically builds common links and patterns across all these varied experiences.
The assumption your brain then makes is that these patterns are applicable across other situations not yet experienced.
When you are in a new and not yet experienced situation, your brain attempts to use the assumptions of the pre-formed pattern in this new situation.
Obviously it is not the same, so the feedback you recieve is different than you expect. Then your brain think why is that so?
And that is where the real learning begins.

But if you are forever concentrating on a specific situation: i.e. language, then you will never be able to form these patterns and models, because you never experience any different situations except the one you are trying to improve.
This is why you should not just concentrate on one specific thing, but diversify and try many different things in many varied situations even if it isn't directly related to your goals, or any other things you are trying to improve.
Unexpectedly, you will learn more this way than concentrating on specific thing.