If you have ever tried learning a new language, you may know that it can be frustrating for a beginner. The different intonations and pronunciations can be a huge task which could take months to master. But for 16 year old Tim from the US, learning a language is a hobby. He has learned (and is still learning) how to speak 20 different languages including Swahili, Xhosa, Italian, French, German, Hausa, Hebrew and many more indigenous languages.
Tim says that he learns by reading books and online videos, but having conversations with people that speak the language helps fasten is fluency.
Tim can speak three African languages – Swahili, Hausa and Xhosa.
“If you want to speak an African language, start with Swahili because it is spoken in Tanzania, Congo, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi. It also has a few similarities with Arabic,” explains Tim.
People who master several languages are know as polyglots. Some theories suggest that people with a high affinity to learning languages had high testosterone when they were babies. But most researchers agree that high level of interest helps polyglots learn faster than average learners.
Watch Tim speak all the 20 languages in the video below:
