Chapter 09 — Big & Curious
What's the easiest language to learn for English speakers?
Norwegian, Dutch, Swedish and Spanish top almost every list — similar grammar, lots of shared vocabulary, predictable spelling. The US Foreign Service estimates ~600–750 class hours to working fluency.
Follow-up questions
What's the hardest?
Mandarin, Cantonese, Arabic, Japanese and Korean — different writing systems, tones, or grammar layers. Expect 2,200+ hours.
Does Duolingo actually work?
Good for vocabulary and a daily habit. Not enough alone for conversation — pair it with speaking practice.
How long until I'm conversational?
300–400 hours of focused study and speaking for an easy language. Daily speaking is the bottleneck — most learners over-study and under-talk.
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