A self-taught polyglot who has mastered 29 languages is now setting his sights on Swahili. However, Wouter Corduwener, a 35 year old Dutchman, says Swahili might be his last.
Known for his passion for languages and his ability to effortlessly switch between diverse tongues, he has amassed a social media following thanks to his bilingual prowess.
His first language acquisition was German during his childhood, and he has since added Japanese, Turkish, and Arabic to his repertoire.
Given the Swahili alphabet is largely similar to English, it should be easier to learn - but the risk of forgetting other languages is the main reason he won't take on any more.
Now, however, he's set his sights on teaching instead. Corduwener, who has partnered with Heathrow Express to create 15-minute masterclasses 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."
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Research by the Heathrow Express revealed that one in six adults who travel abroad avoid using foreign languages while on holiday because they fear being embarrassed.
One in 20 (4%) even opt to avoid travelling to destinations where a language other than their native tongue is spoken, simply to avoid the hassle of communicating.
On the flip side, 42% consider themselves poor at languages, and 16% don't make an effort because they believe they'll never need to use it again.
A Heathrow Express spokesperson 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."
