Learning Luxembourgish: Savio's way!

To mark our 15 successful years in business, we have chosen to organize 15 celebration events and to feature 15 clients who contribute to our company's success.

Discover our interview with Savio FERREIRA DE MELO, one of our clients based in Brazil, pictured below with his wife.

1. Please introduce yourself.

My name is Savio Ferreira de Melo, I am 65, Brazilian and have lived here in Brazil my whole life. I have been married since 1982 and we have 2 sons and 1 daughter, and now one grandson. I live and work in the city of São Paulo.

I'm an engineer and have worked my entire life in this area, most of the time as an entrepreneur in a private engineering firm. Now I'm in a phasing out process, looking for less intensive professional activities and for more free time to travel and stay abroad.

I speak Portuguese (c2, native), English (c1/b2), French (b1), Spanish (b1) and now am learning Luxemburgish (a1).

2. When did you start to learn Luxembourgish? What motivated you to do so? How do you find this experience?

I started studying Luxembourgish about six months ago. There is a considerable number of Brazilians (more than 2000) that are decedents from Luxembourg and this is the case of my wife and sons. In this context, we visited Luxembourg once a year, in the last years. I'm motivated to learn Luxembourgish to better understand the culture and eventually to acquire the nationality. Learning this different language became a very nice cultural experience in my free time.

3. Would you recommend the “365 Days Luxembourgish” calendar?

The 365 Days Luxembourgish at first caught my attention for its different proposal and format. What I like the most is the flexibility and the diversity of issues. I also appreciate the audio tracks very much, they allow me to practice when I’m driving, in the rush hours of São Paulo.

4. Do you use any other learning materials except the “365 Days Luxembourgish” calendar? Is there any material that you would like to use but don’t find for Luxembourgish?

Because I'm in a self-learning process I also use other materials like, Schwätzt Dir Lëtzebuergesch?, Learn Luxembourgish - Liz Wenger, Déi bescht Lëtzebuerger Spréch - Languages.lu, and Lëtzebuergesch Léiere Mat MP3 - Ville de Luxembourg.

At some point I will need help from a school class or private teacher and that's not available here in São Paulo. However, there are a few offers online from Luxemburg which I would like to try.

5. Any wishes for Languages.lu on their 15th anniversary?

My congratulations to the special team of Languages.lu for its 15th anniversary and the excellent job done.

I wish you the best for the coming years, helping more and more people to learn Luxembourgish and keeping the language alive and strong!

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Contact us to talk about you and your needs:

info@languages.lu, 26 47 85 03, 621 272 399.