Stop Asking How Many Languages One Person Can Learn; You're Asking The Wrong Question

Haven't you, too, late at night, while scrolling through videos, seen those 'gurus' who can fluently switch between seven or eight languages, and then silently asked yourself: just how many languages can one human brain really hold?

This question, it's like a persistent thought. It can both ignite our passion for learning and often leave us feeling anxious and frustrated. We become fixated on 'quantity', as if the more languages we learn, the more remarkable we become.

But today, I want to tell you: we might have been asking the wrong question from the very beginning.

Is Your Goal 'Ticking Off Boxes' or 'Savouring the Experience'?

Let me tell you a short story.

Imagine, there are two kinds of 'foodies'.

The first kind, let's call him the 'Checklist King'. His phone gallery is brimming with selfies taken at all sorts of trendy restaurants. He can quickly reel off the names of a hundred eateries and knows the signature dish of each like the back of his hand. But if you ask him, why was that dish so delicious? What were the cooking techniques and culture behind it? He might be stumped, and then quickly switch the topic to the next restaurant. For him, food is about 'collecting' and 'showing off'; it's just a series of check-in records.

The second kind, we call him the 'True Foodie'. He might not have visited as many restaurants, but every meal he sits down for, he savours it wholeheartedly. He can taste the subtle ingenuity the chef has hidden in the sauce and can discuss with you the evolution of that dish within the local culture. What he enjoys is not just the taste, but also the stories, the human connection, and the world behind the food. For him, food is about 'connecting' and 'experiencing'.

Now, let's turn our attention back to language learning. Which kind of person do you think you want to be?

Languages Aren't Stamps, Don't Just Collect Them

Many people, inadvertently, become the 'Checklist Kings' of language learning.

They strive to write "proficient in five languages" on their resumes and are keen on saying "hello" in 20 languages. While this sounds very cool, it can sometimes be quite shallow.

There's a notorious historical example of a public gaffe. A prodigy who claimed to have mastered 58 languages was invited onto a TV show. The host brought in several native speakers from different countries to ask him questions on the spot. As it turned out, out of seven questions, he only falteringly managed to answer one correctly. The situation quickly became extremely awkward.

He was like a 'Checklist King' who had collected countless Michelin Guides but had never truly savoured a single dish. His language knowledge was a fragile exhibit, not a tool for genuine communication.

This serves as a stark reminder for all of us language learners: The true value of a language isn't in how much you 'know' of it, but in what you 'do with it'.

True Gurus Use Language to 'Open Doors'

I know some true language masters. They might not boast about knowing '40 languages', but when you talk to them, you'll discover they have immense curiosity and a profound understanding of each language and the culture behind it.

They learn languages not to add another 'language stamp' to their passport, but to acquire a key that can open the doors to new worlds.

• To learn a language is to gain another perspective on the world. You can read books in their original form, understand untranslated films, and grasp the humour and sorrow unique to another culture.
• To learn a language is to gain another way to connect with others. You can engage in a deep conversation with a friend from another country in their native tongue, and experience the warmth and resonance that transcends cultural barriers.

This is the most captivating aspect of language learning. It's not a competition about numbers, but a journey of continuous discovery and connection.

So, stop fretting over 'how many languages can one person learn at most'. Instead, ask yourself: 'Which world's door do I want to unlock with language?'

Even if you only learn one new language, as long as you can use it to make a friend or understand a story, you're already a more successful 'foodie' than any 'Checklist King'.

Of course, today, initiating a cross-cultural dialogue has become simpler than ever before. Chat Apps like Intent, with their powerful built-in AI translation features, act like your personal guide, enabling you to effortlessly start your first conversation with anyone from any corner of the world. They clear those initial hurdles, allowing you to instantly 'savour' the joy of cross-cultural exchange.

Finally, please remember: language is not a trophy on the wall, but a key in your hand. What truly matters isn't how many keys you possess, but how many doors you've opened with them, and how many different landscapes you've explored.