1. What’s your story? How did you get into all these languages?

Being Spanish and from Valencia explains the first two. At least, the Valencian side. Because there was no Valencian TV nor shows for children when growing up, I watched TV in Catalan and the accent and expressions stuck.

My parents hired a private English teacher when I was five, because they had the common sense to think languages are important, and it happened that it was easy for me to learn (I was years ahead of people my age).

While studying, I came to live to Belgium, where I quickly learned French and Dutch (not in that order) and then came in contact with Italian (due to my music studies) and Portuguese (thanks to my first and horrible job).

2. Which language(s) do you wish you could spend more time practising?

I wish I could improve my Italian and my Portuguese to be able to up their levels a notch. The rest, I practice EVERY DAY. 😊

3. What are some languages you’d like to learn in the future?

I tried German once and I failed to keep up (thank you, ADHD!), so I think I’m going to put it back on my to-do. 😊

4. So let’s be honest, which language has the most charm for you?

Catalan!!!

5. What’s the greatest pleasure you get from speaking so many languages?

May I be honest here? Or do I need to be politically correct? In both scenarios, I love being able to show off in a way where I also can help people (newcomers at work, newcomers to Leuven) feel at ease and at home.

6. Some people say the world is really just going to have a few languages left in 100 years, do you think this is really true?

I think it’s going to be unfortunately true. But deep inside? I hope people are going to see how much your perception of the world changes and how open does your mind become when you speak other languages.

7. What is your message to young (and not so young) people out there who are interested in studying multiple languages?

Please, don’t let the opportunity pass you by!!! Go ahead, learn as many languages as you can. It will allow you to discover and understand other cultures, it will open your vision of the world, it will cure any possible -ism you might have, and it will allow you to search for new recipes to try at home and not the “adapted to visitors versions” that you find in touristic areas!! Trust me (don’t ask me how I know).