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

My language journey is a merry mix of family heritage, school, and stand-up comedy! It began with English, which I picked up naturally growing up in the UK. At home, we spoke Aamchigelo, a dialect of Konkani spoken in Goa, coastal Karnataka, and Maharashtra. Fun fact: after a six-month trip to India as a kid, I almost forgot my English! Languages are like socks - if you don’t use them, you lose them.

School opened the door to French. Our teacher was so convincing, in the first lesson, we genuinely thought he was French! That’s where I caught the language bug.

Italian came next, though I mostly remember pizza, coffee, and pasta from those lessons. Spanish followed, and I quickly became the go-to for homework tips - until I accidentally told a friend a sentence I thought meant “lollipop,” but turned out to be much ruder!

At university, I wanted to revisit Italian but missed the deadline, so I signed up for German instead. When people ask, “Why German?” I say, “Because Italian was full!” While others went for pizza, I went for pretzels.

Years later, Italian made a comeback during a crash course in Bologna, and I took up Portuguese on a whim in Lisbon. I started with European Portuguese, but Brazilian Portuguese soon became the new kid in town. Low sugar, high energy - I guess I’m more Pão de Açúcar than Pastel de Nata!

Hindi has always been in the background thanks to family visits and party pieces belting out Bollywood hits. Top tip: try “Ek Do Teen” (which means “1, 2, 3”) for your karaoke Hindi debut!

Dutch was self-taught for work trips. But during long, meandering road trips in South Africa, it also had the unexpected perk of helping me catch the latest gossip in Afrikaans celebrity magazines.

Mandarin was my tenth language, taken on as a stand-up comedy challenge. Luckily, London has a Mandarin comedy club, so I even performed dressed as Freddy Krueger for Halloween near the Tower of London!

Each language brings its own stories and endless material for comedy. If you can’t laugh at your own language mistakes, who can you laugh at? For me, it’s all about combining passions to double the fun.

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

Honestly, I’d love to spend more time on Italian and Portuguese. Both have beautiful rhythms and vibes. Italian especially feels like music - you want to keep singing even when ordering coffee or greeting a stranger. There’s a natural melody that makes everything sound like a performance.

Brazilian Portuguese has an electric energy. I can only imagine how amazing it would be to perform stand-up in a comedy club in Brazil - the passion, the laughter, the vibrant crowd! It feels like a language made for storytelling and fun, and I’d love to dive deeper into that world.

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

After meeting many language enthusiasts at the Polyglot Gathering, I have a long list! Esperanto seems fun, and performing comedy in Esperanto could be really cool. There, I’ve said it - now I’ll probably get asked about it at the next language event!

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

Spanish wins, hands down - but Costa Ricans would be the sexiest! Their R is soft, smooth, almost musical, like a gentle rumba gliding off your tongue.

On my bucket list? Hearing a Costa Rican say this tongue twister:

“El perro de San Roque no tiene rabo porque Ramón Ramírez se lo ha cortado.”

It means: The dog of Saint Roque has no tail because Ramón Ramírez cut it off.

That would be music to my ears!

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

For me, nothing beats making a comedy audience laugh in another language. There’s real satisfaction in telling a joke and seeing people from all backgrounds laugh together.

Humour is universal, even if the words change. It’s also a great way to break the ice and build bridges, whether on stage or in everyday life. Even when a joke doesn’t work, there’s pleasure in understanding why and improving on that.

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 don’t think we’ll end up with just a few languages, but I do think some will disappear. Many smaller languages are vanishing as people switch to big ones like English, Spanish, or Mandarin. For example, many Indigenous languages now have only a few elderly speakers left.

Closer to home, we’ve seen real efforts to save minority languages. Take Welsh - there’s a big push to revive it through schools, media, and government support. Welsh stand-up comedy is even becoming a thing, showing the language is living and evolving. Welsh speakers usually also speak English, so bilingualism is common.

I believe more people will speak both a major language and a minority language in the future, rather than dropping the smaller ones completely. This bilingualism keeps culture and identity alive, even in a globalised world.

So yes, some languages will disappear, but passion for culture means linguistic diversity will still exist - just in different ways than today.

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

My message is: don’t be afraid to start and try to enjoy the process. Studying languages is easier and more accessible than ever. The real challenge is finding the right resources and sticking with it.

Set clear, achievable goals - whether mastering basic conversation or reading a book. Everyone’s goals differ.

For me, it might be delivering a stand-up comedy set in a new language. For you, it could be giving a wedding speech in your partner’s language, getting my in a foreign country, learning polite phrases for a business meeting, or watching a film without subtitles.

Start with an online course, then use tutors or language exchanges. Speaking with native or advanced speakers builds vocabulary and confidence. I also use AI apps to keep skills sharp and interactive.

Mixing textbooks, apps, tutors, conversations, and cultural media like films, podcasts, or music keeps learning fresh. Finding a study partner boosts motivation.

Remember, challenges and mistakes are part of the journey. Be patient and kind to yourself. Consistent practice, even a little daily, makes a big difference. Learning languages opens many doors and is a fun, lifelong adventure!