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

I started learning English as a child because it was an important language. As a teenager, I began studying other languages and enjoyed it so much that I decided to study languages at university: I studied Translation Studies (English and French) at one university and German and Portuguese (Language and Literature) at another. I have been working as a teacher for over 25 years. Additionally, I have taken several short courses to learn the basics of other languages (like Dutch, Japanese, Romanian and Greek) and to gain some insight into the culture(s) behind them.

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

Each of the languages in which I have achieved what I consider a good level (B1), as well as some that I know only a little, such as Greek, Japanese and Dutch.

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

I would like to improve my Japanese (A1) and Dutch (A1-A2). I believe I could improve my Dutch quickly because I already know English and German. Perhaps I´ll study a little bit of Chinese someday.

4. So let’s be honest, what’s the sexiest language?

I don’t usually think of languages as sexy. I think some of them sound beautiful, like Italian, while others can sound a bit harsh, like Arabic.

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

Getting to know different cultures and cultural expressions, being able to communicate with others whenever I have the chance and understanding things that I read or listen to.

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 so. I believe that native languages are those in which most people express themselves best and to which they have the strongest emotional attachments. These languages will continue to exist and be passed down from one generation to the next. But it is also important to develop people's awareness that all languages are valuable and that there are no better languages, so people don't give up speaking their minority languages or dialects. Moreover, modern technology and the ability to connect with people worldwide will help preserve and promote languages.

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

Languages are fascinating! Don’t be afraid to start learning them. Some things might seem difficult at first, but they simply require practice. Take it one step at a time – and remember, it’s okay to make mistakes! Nobody is perfect, and no one expects perfection. Learning languages is a wonderful journey that allows us to discover the beauty of human expression in all its forms. It’s also a fantastic way to meet people, learn about other cultures (and our own, as well as ourselves!), become more tolerant, promote peace, and have fun.