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

I have always loved hearing and reading different languages. It all started with Galician and Spanish, my mother tongues, and then all the rest came after: English, French, Latin, Ancient Greek, German, Portuguese, Italian, Japanese… I stumbled upon them and it has always been love at first sight. As the Czech saying goes, “you live a new life for every new language you speak”, and learning languages was taking a glimpse into the very soul of the people that use them.

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

Japanese and German, for sure.

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

Some Slavic languages, probably Chinese and Korean. I would also love to learn Altaic languages too.

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

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Sexiness is in the ear of the listener. All languages can be sexy.

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

I am a philologist, so I get goosebumps when I read beautiful grammar and syntax patterns that I hadn’t encountered before. I also think speakers appreciate your efforts when speaking their mother tongue as a foreigner: it’s more respectful, it shows that you care enough to get to know them better. Besides, for someone with a hobbling social anxiety, it helps me bridge the gap between me and the native speaker; in a way, it makes up for my lack of eye contact and my casual stuttering.

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?

I hope not, because that would be a great cultural loss. Every language showcases a unique understanding of the world surrounding us and the soul of their people.

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

Do it. Don’t think about it. Don’t feel shame. If I can overcome my social anxiety and get to talk to native speakers, so can you! The more languages you know, the better the understanding of the underlying patterns and cultural nuances. Stop overthinking -or don’t, but do it in a foreign language!