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

The language Odyssey started with... Wait, there was no starting point. If there was something, it must have been curiosity and some notions of what I was about to learn. Ingredients of a good start, but deep motivation and inspiration - there were none.

I had already studied English at school and took some courses on that matter, but no feelings or motivation were attached to it. I didn't have emotions in play. Just task-based approaches.

All of the blue, I found a PDF textbook on German (Basic Grammar explained in roughly 60 pages) - and it sounded interesting. What is this language-people-are-afraid-of all about? 

I slowly got interested in diving deeper, and by the day I could not stop learning. German addiction feelings have dominated my body and soul. Small tweaks in my methods - all was under control;

Later came Spanish (Rio de la Plata accent - my initial-focused accent) - and the whole Latin America (Tierra del Fuego until Monumento 206) + Spain was speaking the very same language as I did.

I was alright with the way my life was heading until the day I came across a sixteen-rule language that challenged everything I thought I knew about languages. Oh gosh, what a day. Duolingo was my companion day-by-day and night-by-night. It was the time for Esperanto, the transcultural language.

If you google it, chances are the videos will be negative about the ideals behind it. Have you ever heard anything positive about it? Esperanto represents for me not only the one who hopes, but the one who resists. The one who gathers together and celebrates differences.

I currently work with English and German and also teach Esperanto. All in Brazil.

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

Mainly the ones I have less cultural grasp on: French, Italian, Dutch and Russian.

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

Keep up learning the previous ones and dive deep into Chinese, Guarani, Greek - cultures and languages, and much dialogue with all folks from all over the place.

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

Ha! Undoubtedly: Esperanto and its community - for its speciality - needless to say, any language is highly valued to me.

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

Getting to know other people's perspectives. Expanding mine. Dialoguing. Understanding and being understood.

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

It tends to be true in some centuries up to now - and that’s awful. Some languages are preferred or the only option over others.

Most languages will become extinct due to the processes we are living through. Cultures will die unless we do something to slow this process down.

Cultural differences will remain, as they are inherent in our species. Thus, practicing transcultural communication and understanding shall be, as always, essential.

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

Go for it! Don’t be afraid - it’s not worth it. Get exposed to different people and situations. If you go out, be wise - streetwise. Be playful in words and life.

Be supportive in other people’s learning and avoid criticizing others.

(Constructive criticisms - what a contradiction!)

Cultivate a ready-for-challenges-mind in a healthy body. There’s much yet to be uncovered out there. To the streets shall you belong.

Stay a child within - full of curiosity for the world and its people!

But behave as a grown-up: we get to maintain appearances. (Lots of laughs).