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

Experience Using Languages

I grew up in South Africa, where Afrikaans was my first language. English was learned alongside Afrikaans from a young age and was used regularly in daily life. South Africa has eleven official languages, and even in early childhood I was exposed to a multilingual environment. Languages such as isiXhosa and isiZulu were commonly heard in public spaces, schools, and communities. Hearing and using multiple languages from a young age made multilingualism a natural part of everyday life.

Today, my strongest languages are Afrikaans and Italian, which I consider to be at approximately the same level. I have developed these languages primarily through daily use and continuous exposure in a variety of environments. My Italian proficiency is supported by postgraduate-level translation studies at university, which strengthened both my understanding and practical use of the language.

When I moved to Italy, Italian became the main language of daily life. Through constant use in everyday situations, I developed a high level of proficiency. I also studied Dutch and Spanish at school. Dutch was the first language I formally encountered in a classroom setting, and Spanish was studied briefly at that time. Both languages contributed to my overall linguistic experience.

After leaving Italy, I moved to Switzerland, where I learned German. In addition to standard German, I was also exposed to Swiss German. This allowed me to develop the ability to switch naturally between different forms of the same language, depending on the context and region.

Later, I lived in England, where I experienced regional variations of English in the north, which differ from Canadian English. Similarly, when I started learning French in Canada three years ago, I became familiar with Canadian French, which has differences compared to French from France. Through these experiences, I have learned not only multiple languages but also the different regional varieties, accents, and expressions that exist within each language.

I reached a C1 level in French after seven months of intensive study, earning a certified diploma from the Alliance Française in Moncton. Learning French, like all languages, has also given me the opportunity to explore and understand different cultures, and the connection that language allows with people has been highly motivating. I also returned to Spanish, learning it more extensively. Prior experience with other Romance languages allowed me to progress quickly, and daily use helped refine fluency and natural expression. Portuguese followed, learned in a similar way, with consistent practice and exposure.

Seeking further challenges, I studied Ukrainian and Mandarin. Although I have not reached full proficiency in these languages, I invested significant effort and learned a great deal through regular use and exposure.

Across all languages, daily use and ongoing exposure have been central to my learning. Frequent engagement with different languages, their regional variations, and the cultures they

represent has allowed me to develop flexibility and confidence in communicating across multiple linguistic and cultural environments.

Growing up, I moved around a lot, so learning languages was essential to adapt and connect with people in new environments. Over time, what started as a necessity became a passion. I discovered that language is more than just communication — it’s a gateway to culture, community, and understanding. Each language I’ve learned has given me new ways to experience the world and connect with people meaningfully.

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

I would love to spend more time practising Ukrainian and Mandarin. Both are challenging and completely different from the languages I grew up with, and I want to develop full proficiency so I can communicate naturally and explore their cultures more deeply.

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

I’m interested in languages that introduce entirely new structures and cultural perspectives, like Arabic or Japanese. Exploring languages from different families broadens how I think, how I approach problem-solving, and how I experience culture.

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

Italian. There’s something about its rhythm and musicality that feels alive when spoken, and it’s incredibly expressive. It’s a language that conveys emotion as naturally as words.

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

Connection. Speaking someone’s language allows me to share ideas, laugh, and understand people on a deeper level. It’s not just about words—it’s about accessing the culture, history, and perspective behind them. That sense of closeness and understanding is incredibly rewarding.

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

I don’t think so. While some languages may dominate globally, languages are deeply tied to culture and identity. People will always preserve and use the languages that matter to them, and technology may even help revive or protect languages that might otherwise fade.

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

Start small, and focus on daily use. Don’t be afraid of mistakes—communication is more important than perfection. Dive into the culture behind the language, because that makes learning motivating and meaningful. Each language you learn is a key to understanding the world and connecting with people in ways you wouldn’t otherwise.