2. Freud developed a proficiency for languages in grammar and secondary school
Freud was born in Frieberg, in what was then Moravia in 1856. By 1860 the family was living in Vienna, though his half-brothers from Jakob’s first marriage had moved to England. He completed his early schooling there, proving to be an enthusiastic student. He developed both a life-long love of classic literature and was adept with languages. By the time he completed secondary school he was able to read and write in German, English, Spanish, French, Italian, Greek, Latin, and Hebrew. Freud finished his secondary school training intending to study law at the University of Vienna.
Instead, once he entered school there (he was 17) he chose to study medicine. His studies took him to other locations in Europe as part of his research work, and in the late 1870s, he was forced to take a year off in order to comply with compulsory military service in Austria. He finally received his Doctor of Medicine degree from Vienna in 1881. The following year Freud joined the staff at Vienna General Hospital, conducting extensive research into the anatomy of the brain. In 1884 Freud began conducting research into a freely available drug – freely in that it was available over the counter – synthesized from the coca leaves of the Andes.