Easiest language for English native

I only speak English, I wish to learn another language.
The problem is that I've always kind of sucked at learning languages. I learnt some Indonesian, French and Japanese in school (Australian), and I was always terrible.
I understand that the more languages you learn, the easier it gets to learn more, is this true? What are the easiest languages to learn as an English speaker? Dutch and German?

Mandarin.

Seriously though, firstly, think about what you are going to do once you mastered a second language. You wouldn't let years of learning only to find out that you've wasted time on something useless, right?

Secondly, I don't see that one's number of mastered language can affect his ability to understand more languages.

And last, I'm sure you should start with languages that has lots of similarities in grammar compared to English. Why don't try Spanish?

Be patient.

Esperanto

>>3

Esparanto is indeed designed to be easy to learn, so that would be the first choice.

For naturally-evolved languages, the closest I think are Swedish and Dutch. Assuming you're just learning for the joy of something new. If it's to get money, Mandarin or something may be better (but more boring and difficult).

Oh, and don't forget that it'll take years to get fluent. Unfortunately, this isn't something that can be rushed. It can be enjoyable though.

other then esperanto one of the Scandinavian languages would be the easiest. Finnish is not one of these. Between Norwegian, Swedish and Danish Norwegian would probably be the best. It is a middle ground between Dannish and Swedish

Nobody is naturally good at learning languages, it's a skill you learn through doing.

Languages aren't easier to learn just because you already know more than 1 language, they're easier to learn because you learn _how_ to learn a language in the most efficient way for you.

If you want a useful language that's "easy" go with Norwegian, Icelandic, Swedish or Danish. Of course, their actual usefulness depends on what you plan to do with the language.

Don't fall into the trap of trying to learn a language for no reason other than learning the language itself (at least not for your first language -- once you get fluent in at least one or two non-native languages then you may be able to get by with just that for motivation) find a reason to learn it.

>>7
>Nobody is naturally good at learning languages

There are. Just like there are people who are naturally good at other things. Some types of savants even do it for fun. Your point still stands though.

>>8
The idea of natural talent is pretty heavily debated, and you don't need natural talent in learning languages to learn languages for fun.

In any case, yeah, the point I was trying to make still stands. All I was trying to say is that "not being good at learning languages" is a horrible excuse.

Going with the line of thinking with Scandinavian languages, Afrikaans is probably the easiest language. It might be more useful to learn German, though.

Linguistically (and probably then logically), the most related, living language to English is Frisian, but it ends up looking more like bastardized Dutch mixed with Danish. But it IS linguistically the most related.

However, personally, I think if you want to actually learn a language that would be easy for you, you have to find the one that clicks for you. For me German clicks on the same kind of subconscious level as English, but for some members of my family French is that way and they cannot understand how I am with German.

In short, Frisian for nitpickers, Dutch as a real answer.