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My love for languages
My love for languages
Language has always captivated me, and I've dedicated considerable time to learning and mastering several of them. Speaking multiple languages has profoundly enriched my life, enabling me to connect with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures. I see languages as more than just a tool for communication — they are a gateway to understanding different perspectives and ways of life. My love for languages has significantly enhanced my travels. Whether it's chatting with fellow cyclists in Dutch, ordering food in Spanish, or visiting the hospital ED in French (true story!), language has been my key to truly experiencing each place.
My passion for languages actually stems from moving frequently. Growing up, I realised that in order to "survive," I needed to make myself understood. That today now serves as motivation and reinforces my desire to connect with local cultures, people, and cuisine. The more I travel, the more I realise the value of communicating in the native tongue.
My approach to learning languages is practical: use whatever vocabulary you have and don't be afraid to make grammatical mistakes. I immerse myself in pop culture media, enjoying Spanish music like reggaetón (🙉) and watching Instagram reels in Spanish and French, mostly related to cycling and cats. Additionally, I enjoy finding patterns in languages with common roots, using these similarities to expedite the learning process.
If I never have to work again, I would perfect all the languages mentioned below and learn the other two major Romance languages — Italian and Portuguese. I would love to create YouTube videos highlighting the similarities and differences between these languages and teach people. Of course, I would travel to these places on my bike, communicating with locals and immersing myself in their cultures and cuisine. This is my true passion 😁
Mandarin
Mandarin
Mandarin is one of my mother tongues, providing a solid foundation for my multilingual communication skills. It has allowed me to connect with my cultural roots and engage with Mandarin-speaking communities.
Germanic languages: English, Dutch, Afrikaans
Germanic languages: English, Dutch, Afrikaans
English, my other mother tongue, is the language I use most frequently in both personal and professional settings. I have also completed all the Dutch courses (up to B2) offered at TU Delft, which has greatly helped me navigate daily life and work in the Netherlands. Part of this ease is also due to my background in Afrikaans, which I learnt while growing up in South Africa.
Romance languages: French, Spanish
Romance languages: French, Spanish
I learnt French as an extra subject during high school and achieved the DELF B2 level. This has proven very useful now that I've moved to Europe. Additionally, it served as a stepping stone that allowed me to learn Spanish quickly, as the two languages share many similarities. I estimate that my Spanish is currently at level A2. I love both these languages; they sound beautiful and each has its own distinct charm.
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