1) She was able to say / managed to say / succeeded in saying a few words when she first met her host family.
- "She was able to say" suggests that she had the capability or capacity to speak a few words.
- "Managed to say" implies that there might have been some difficulty or obstacle, but she was able to overcome it and speak a few words.
- "Succeeded in saying" emphasizes the achievement of speaking a few words, highlighting that it was a successful action.
2) She could speak very little English when she was younger.
- It indicates her ability or lack thereof to speak English in the past.
- It suggests that her proficiency in English was limited during her younger years.