>>41067842English isn't my first language so I can relate
french canadian faggot here.)
I played Red & Silver pretty much "blind" because I couldn't understand English.
Lt. Surge's gym in RBY? Yeah I didn't know what the fuck I was doing in there.
Had to memorize which attack actually did DMG (e.g. Screech vs Bind).
At least in the case of Silver I did own a game guide - it was in English though the images did the trick to get me through the game.
My ability to speak English got decent mid-way through high school and by that time Gen 3 had already come out.
All the way til then, I got funky memories that are much like what you described in your post; friends and I, making fun of Pokemon names, attacks or random words (I really liked the word FOE back then).
Your post made me smile but after typing mine I am just cringed out at myself. 
