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

Growing up in a multicultural household with Dutch and Indonesian roots, I was surrounded by different languages from the very beginning. At home, I was exposed to Frisian and Dutch, while Indonesian and the Col language, an endangered indigenous language from South Sumatra, were part of my daily environment. This early mix of languages made me curious about the diversity of human expression. As I grew older, that curiosity naturally expanded. I began exploring languages not just as a means of communication, but as gateways into cultures, histories, and ways of thinking. Well, every language I’ve learned has opened new perspectives and shaped how I see the world.

For me, language learning is not simply about words or grammar, but it’s like building bridges between people and cultures. It has become second nature, almost like breathing.

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

There are so many! Right now, I’d love to spend more time practicing Albanian, Estonian, and Georgian. I feel like I have a good foundation, but there’s always room to improve, especially with Albanian, since it has such a unique structure compared to others I’ve learned. I find that when I don’t practice regularly, I lose a bit of that fluidity, so these languages are on my list for more focused study.

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

I’m really interested in learning Tibetan and Mongolian next. Both languages have such rich cultural and historical significance, and I’ve always been drawn to languages that are deeply connected to their cultural roots. Also, I’d love to dive deeper into indigenous languages, like Quechua or Navajo or maybe Aboriginal languages, because I think preserving these languages is incredibly important.

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

Well, I think every language has its own charm, but if I had to pick one, I’d pick Italian. There’s something about the way it flows, especially when spoken by someone passionate, that makes it sound so melodic and romantic. It’s expressive and almost musical in a way, and I think that’s why people often find it so captivating.

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

For me, the greatest pleasure that I get from that is the ability to connect with people from all over the world. There’s something incredibly fulfilling about being able to have a conversation in someone’s native language and really understand their perspectives. I also love those little moments when someone’s face lights up because they didn’t expect me to speak their language. Honestly, it feels like a kind of superpower, one that makes people feel closer right away.

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 the world will ever end up with just a handful of languages, but it’s true that some are definitely at risk. Big global languages are getting stronger, meanwhile smaller ones sometimes struggle to survive. At the same time, I’ve seen more and more efforts to preserve and revive endangered languages, which gives me hope. So maybe in 100 years we’ll still have a lot of diversity, just with a different balance than today.

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

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, that’s where the learning happens. A lot of people are intimidated by the idea of learning multiple languages because they think they need to be perfect right away, but it’s really a journey. Take it step by step, stay curious, and enjoy the process. Every language you learn is a key to understanding a new part of the world, and that’s a gift that will stay with you for life.