Why Swahili might be the last language for this multilingual Dutchman

A man who has taught himself 29 languages is now aiming to learn Swahili. However, Wouter Corduwener believes that the official language of Tanzania and Kenya will be his final linguistic challenge.

The 35 year old Dutchman, known for his passion for languages and ability to switch between diverse tongues with ease, has developed a following on social media thanks to his bilingual talents.

He first learned German during his childhood and has since picked up Japanese, Turkish, and Arabic – but it seems Swahili will be his last.

The language has an alphabet largely similar to English, meaning it should be easier to pick up – but the risk of forgetting others is the main reason for not taking on any more.

He has recently partnered with Heathrow Express to create 15-minute masterclasses – the same as the journey time from Paddington to London Heathrow and says: “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.”

Wouter’s collaboration follows research by the brand which found one in six adults who travel abroad avoid foreign lingo when on holiday as they fear they’ll embarrass themselves. 

A survey of 2,000 adults conducted by OnePoll found that of those who avoid using the local language when travelling abroad, 42% consider themselves poor at languages.

Additionally, 16% don’t make an effort because they believe they’ll never need to use the language again. Meanwhile, 34% of respondents don’t attempt to learn the local language because they assume everyone already speaks English.

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.”