I studied/I have studied

[Rachel Adams]

Does the first sentence mean that the speaker has studied English and French and still speaks both languages unlike the second sentence?

1. "I have studied English and French."

2. "I studied English and French."

 

[5jj]

Neither tells us that the speaker can speak both languages now.

 

[5jj]

As so often happens, Rachel, you are trying to read too much unto the use of a tense/aspect.

1. "I have studied English and French."
All we know from this that the study of English and French has been part of their life experience. We don't know whether they studied these languages as an intellectual exercise, an at2empt to communicate in them, or something else. We don't even know for sure whether they actually learnt anything.


2. "I studied English and French."
This is a highly unlikely utterance without context to establish the past time of the study.

 

[Rachel Adams]

I understand that the first sentence tells us about their experience, but I thought it means they can speak English now. :-? Isn't there a connection with the present period? If not, what is it (present perfect) used for in that sentence? Only tp to talk about one's experience?

 

[5jj]

I understand that the first sentence tells us about their experience, but I thought it means they can speak English now.

Nothing in that sentence tells us about whether or not they can speak English or French now.

. Isn't there a connection with the present period? If not, what is it (present perfect) used for in that sentence?

The present perfect aspect or, as I prefer to call it, the unmarked retrospective aspect, is used here, as it so often is, to look back at a period of time from a present standpoint. The study took place in that period of time.

See this article: https://www.usingenglish.com/articles/english-tenses-aspects-5-retrospective-aspect.html