In 2014, the Danish were named as the best speakers of English as a second language in the world. Sweden took the crown for two years in a row before that.
In fact, nearly anyone you meet from any Scandinavian country will have a near, if not perfect grasp of the English language, as well as being fluent in their own native tongue.
How can this be? Are Scandinavians some sort of super-human language geniuses? Does the mix of cold temperatures and lack of natural light have some sort of positive effect on the brain, that makes one more susceptible to speaking in multiple tongues?
Nope! All Scandinavians I’ve met on my travels are just like you and me. What I suspect is at play is language similarity, a cultural interest in English speaking media and an education system that makes a success out of learning a second language while at school.
Let’s examine why it is that Scandinavians have an aptitude for learning English. Plus, how you can can apply these hacks in your own quests to achieve fluency in a new language.