Man self-taught in 29 languages says Swahili will probably be his final – here is why
A bloke who has taught himself 29 languages is now aiming to conquer Swahili.
Wouter Corduwener, however, reckons that the official language of Tanzania and Kenya will be his final linguistic challenge.
The 35 year old Dutchman, known for his love of languages and his knack for effortlessly switching between different tongues, has gained a following on social media due to his bilingual skills.
He first learned German as a child and has since mastered Japanese, Turkish, and Arabic – but it seems Swahili will be his last.
Given that the language’s alphabet is largely similar to English, it should be easier to learn – but the risk of forgetting other languages is the main reason he’s not taking on any more.
A survey of 2,000 adults, conducted by OnePoll, found that when travelling abroad, 42% consider themselves poor at languages, and 16% don’t make an effort because they believe they’ll never need to use it again.
Corduwener, who has partnered with Heathrow Express to create 15-minute masterclasses – the same time it takes to travel from Paddington to London Heathrow – said: “It’s always been my goal to help motivate people to try to speak foreign languages.”
“Whenever I speak to travellers, they always tell me how much they enjoy speaking the local language and how they love to find hidden gems they’d never have discovered if they didn’t have the confidence to ask locals.”
This collaboration comes after research by the brand revealed that one in six adults who travel abroad avoid using foreign languages while on holiday – for fear of making a fool of themselves. Meanwhile, 34% don’t bother trying because they assume everyone already speaks English.
One in 20 (4%) even opt to avoid holidaying in destinations where a language other than their native tongue is spoken, simply to avoid the hassle of getting by.
A spokesperson for Heathrow Express commented: “We always want our passengers to kick start their holiday in the most enjoyable way. What’s more fulfilling than to learn 15 phrases in the language of your upcoming destination all in just 15 minutes.”
