If you want to start AfterEffects CS4 in a different language than you have it installed (i.e. if you want to follow an English tutorial and cannot find the effects), open the program with the additional command  -L en_US .

Just create a link on your desktop and add this command after the target: "C:\...\AfterFX.exe" -L en_US.

You can find all available language codes by looking into the installation directory of AfterEffects and opening the AMT folder.