We might arm ourselves with a few useful phrases like how to ask where the restroom is, and then turn to a translation app to help us out with the rest.
The vast majority of us don’t have that kind of time to dedicate to the study of a new language, especially if we’re gearing up for our next international adventure. While the rule has been disputed, it still takes hundreds (if not thousands) of hours to become fluent in a second language, never mind a third or fourth. Simon Hill/Digital TrendsLearning a new language can be hard. Most people are familiar with the 10,000-hour rule - made popular by writer Malcolm Gladwell - that suggests it takes 10,000 hours of dedicated practice to become an expert in any given field.
