Which languages are easiest -- and most difficult -- for native English speakers to learn? With so much time on our hands during lockdown, many of us have entertained the idea of expanding our horizons. Learning a foreign language is an obvious option. It's one that I would personally endorse: My individual circumstances were such that, by the age of 12, I could speak German, Greek and English, so languages became my passion and my hobby. My advice is that you should learn a language because you're also interested in the culture and the country. If you like Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky, learn Russian. If you're going to live in Bangkok, learn Thai. If your partner is Mexican, learn Spanish. And remember: Although you can get by as a tourist in, possibly, weeks, mastering a language is a long-term commitment taking years, not months. Language and diplomacy After World War II, the United States expanded its influence around the world by training its ...