1. What's your story? How did you learn all these languages?

My story begins in Temuco, a city in southern Chile where I grew up in a fully Spanish-speaking environment. From a young age, I developed a strong interest in language—the sounds, structures, and meanings that words could convey seemed to form part of a broader system I felt compelled to understand. At the age of ten, my grandmother, noticing this early curiosity, gave me a manual for learning Italian. That gift became a turning point in my life.

Even then, opera stirred a profound emotion within me, despite my inability to comprehend the lyrics of Verdi, Puccini, or Bellini. Studying Italian enabled me to understand the feelings embedded in those compositions, interpret their stories, and enter a cultural realm that had once seemed remote. I devoted countless hours to memorizing vocabulary and practicing spoken phrases. Ultimately, I mastered the basics, gaining the confidence to embark on learning additional languages.

This initial experience revealed to me that languages are not mere instruments of communication, but rather keys to the understanding of diverse modes of thought, feeling, and existence. In the years of my adolescence, I turned my attention to the English tongue—not initially out of passion, but rather due to unsatisfactory performance within the schoolroom. I resolved to study it autonomously, and by the age of fifteen, I had successfully passed a B2-level examination. This personal triumph demonstrated that meaningful learning may well be achieved beyond the formal confines of the classroom, and that self-direction is a potent source of motivation. The English language broadened my access to the global culture, enabling me to comprehend music, cinema, and to converse with individuals from a multitude of nations.

French entered my life through music as well, particularly through the immortal voice of Édith Piaf. Later, my interest matured into a desire to read French literature in its original tongue. I aspired to engage directly with the works of Rimbaud, Baudelaire, and Verlaine, so as to appreciate the rhythm and subtlety of their writings. At the age of sixteen, I commenced the study of German, drawn by the intellectual heritage bequeathed by luminaries such as Goethe, Nietzsche, and Kant. Though a challenge, German taught me the value of precision, of structure, and of rigorous thought.

Portuguese revealed itself to me through the music of Brazil. The voices of Gal Costa, Elis Regina, and Gilberto Gil evoked a cultural richness which I yearned to comprehend more profoundly. Learning Portuguese became a means of honouring that cherished culture. Subsequently, my travels to Brazil and my interactions with its people further cemented my bond with their language and identity.

Other tongues followed for various reasons: Russian, inspired by a yearning to read Tolstoy; Swedish, kindled by an interest in the history of the Vikings; and Arabic, after visits to Morocco and Andalusia, where I was captivated by the enduring legacy of the Islamic world. In every instance, the language served as a gateway to the exploration of cultures that deeply inspired me.

History has been the ever-present thread which connects and sustains this passion for languages. I am presently engaged in the pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in history at the university in Santiago. My academic endeavours have shown me that languages do not exist as isolated entities—they are profoundly intertwined with historical, political, and social processes. My burgeoning interest in the history of the Middle East has impelled me to study Arabic with steadfastness, reaching a basic, perhaps intermediate proficiency. Furthermore, I am captivated by ancient civilisations and harbour the aspiration to study Sumerian and Middle Egyptian in due course.

A particularly poignant experience occurred in Belize, where English Creole exists alongside a diversity of other tongues. Understanding the local dialect permitted my participation in a communal celebration, the enjoyment of discourse with the elder generations, the dancing to native music, and the witnessing of the pride which individuals take in their Afro-Caribbean and mixed heritage. That encounter served to remind me that language unlocks doors to shared human experiences that might otherwise remain forever inaccessible.

Before wholly dedicating myself to the study of history, I pursued studies in Tourism. This initial formation strengthened my connection with languages, enabling me to act as a cultural intermediary, to offer visitors more profound and meaningful experiences, and to communicate the heritage of my country with authenticity. Each exchange became a moment of mutual learning and discovery, further affirming my conviction in the power of language as a bridge uniting peoples and cultures.

2. Which language(s) would you like to spend more time practising?

Without a doubt, Arabic and Mandarin. Santiago is home to a large Palestinian community, as well as a growing Chinese presence; however, it is not always easy to find native speakers to practise with.

3. Which languages would you like to learn in the future?

I would love to learn Haitian Creole. Over 100,000 migrants from Haiti currently live in Chile, and I have developed close ties with this community, with whom I share many friendships. Likewise, I am drawn to languages such as Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Indonesian, Turkish, among others.

4. Let’s be honest – what’s the sexiest language?

Without question, French and Brazilian Portuguese hold that privileged position. French, with its soft and melodic cadence, its enveloping pronunciation, and the charm of its whispered “j”s and guttural “r”s, is profoundly seductive. Meanwhile, Brazilian Portuguese possesses a vibrant musicality, conveys joy, and has a fascinating rhythmic richness. Its characteristic use of “sh” sounds makes it irresistibly sensual to the ear.

5. What is the greatest pleasure you derive from speaking so many languages?

The greatest privilege has, without doubt, been the capacity to forge connections with individuals from diverse regions of the world. The ability to speak their language serves not merely to facilitate communication, but also to establish a profound bond capable of transcending the limitations of mere words. Such knowledge has bestowed upon me singular experiences: from the opportunity to peruse literary works in their original tongue, to the privilege of engaging in conversations of significance which might otherwise have remained beyond my reach. Each language I incorporate into my life enriches my perspective—both in an emotional and intellectual sense—and presents novel avenues for apprehending the nature of reality.

Every language has constituted a gateway to experiences unique and unrepeatable. I recall, by way of example, a moment during my travels through Morocco when I entered into discourse in dialectal Arabic with a young shopkeeper amidst the souks of Fez. Seated in the cool shade of a carpet stall whilst partaking in mint tea, he shared with me tales of his family, the customs of Ramadan, and the quotidian rhythms of life within the medina. Such narratives, imbued with warmth and humour, were made possible solely through the language that united us.

6. Some people say that in 100 years, only a few languages will remain in the world. Do you think that’s really true?

At present, there exist approximately seven thousand languages spoken throughout the world; yet, on average, one succumbs to extinction every fortnight. By the close of this century, it is anticipated that more than half of these tongues may vanish or hover perilously upon the brink of disappearance, particularly those local and minority languages which lack institutional support and the vital transmission from one generation to the next.

Nonetheless, I do not subscribe to the belief that but a handful of languages shall endure, for considerable endeavours are being undertaken by linguists and institutions devoted to the preservation of minority tongues. It remains most probable, however, that global communication will be dominated by a cadre of ten to fifteen “superlanguages,” such as English, Mandarin, Hindi, and Arabic. Meanwhile, hundreds of regional or national languages shall persist, and thousands of minority languages may survive within small communities or through revitalisation programmes—though many may be confined to ceremonial use or remain in a state of perpetual endangerment.

In my considered opinion, what is truly indispensable is the thorough documentation of these languages, so that the ancestral and unique knowledge they embody is safeguarded as part of humanity’s linguistic patrimony, even should the number of native speakers diminish. It is of utmost importance to recognise that the cessation of a language as a spoken medium does not necessarily signify its total disappearance.

For instance, as I understand, there are no native speakers of Sanskrit in the present day; yet a multitude of scholars and enthusiasts continue to study it, supported by a vast corpus of books and written records. Thus, it cannot be regarded as a lost language.

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

Mastering a language other than one’s own demands time, effort, perseverance, and discipline, yet the rewards it bestows are beyond measure. The study of languages is among the most enriching undertakings a human being may pursue: it opens doors not only to new cultures but to entire worlds, symbolic realms, diverse sensibilities, and alternative modes of understanding reality. It is a journey that transforms, elevates the spirit, and sharpens the intellect.

It is not simply the acquisition of a functional tool, but an engagement in a profound dialogue with diversity, with otherness, with the unknown. In a world beset by increasing tensions, xenophobia, and cultural strife, the knowledge of foreign tongues is not merely valuable—it is imperative. Ultimately, the learning of languages is an act of openness, of empathy, and a stand against ignorance. Let none forsake this endeavour: each new word is a bridge extended between civilisations.