The Birth of a Polyglot

Here is the story of the birth of OneStepFurther.

According to estimates from organizations like Ethnologue and UNESCO, about 43% of the world’s population is bilingual to some degree. At the age of nineteen, I found that I wasn’t part of that population, for I was capable of speaking only my native language, Spanish.

English and Interlingua

So, I decided to learn English, as it was and continues to be the «international language.» In those early moments of my self-directed English language learning, I encountered a rather peculiar language: Interlingua, a constructed language based on Romance languages. It proved to be an elegant, striking, and easy-to-learn language. In that first year of independent language learning, I mastered these two languages: English and Interlingua.

Italian and Portuguese

For several more years, I decided to refine my use of these languages and studied linguistics in its more theoretical aspect without expanding my repertoire of learned languages. However, three years after learning English and Interlingua, I decided to repeat a similar experience and learn two languages in one year. Once again, it was two languages similar and very close to those already in my existing language repertoire. This time, it was the languages of Dante and Camões, Italian and Portuguese.

Italian

For several years, I had been dedicated to the intense study and production of poetry, and, ever since this became a passion, I had wanted to read in its original language the works of Dante Alighieri and Francesco Petrarca, two giants of that early Renaissance. They gave birth to one of the greatest literary creations worldwide, with immense symbolism, titled ‘Commedia’ (later accompanied by the epithet ‘Divina’ since Giovanni Boccaccio named it so); a collection of love poems e non solo that would have an impact on our culture lasting for centuries, the ‘Canzoniere,’ along with the birth of a unique poetic school called Il Dolce Stil Nuovo, and the Renaissance (this time for real) of the classics through the humanism initiated by Petrarca.

Portuguese

Simultaneously, I met a community of Interlingua speakers or learners from Brazil. Oh, Brazil! What a vibrant culture! And what an attractive language theirs is! While in Portugal and Galicia, this language sounds melancholic, suitable for singing songs on rainy days, in Brazil, it seemed to dance samba and sing a cheerful tune that could animate an entire carnival.

Thus, the academic year 2017-2018 seemed propitious for me to venture into learning these two languages, and so I did. Again, after learning them, I entered a small hibernation, where I dedicated myself to studying other things but left aside the learning of new languages.

French

Until 2022 came, and I started working in France. Due to my previous knowledge of languages related to French, it wasn’t difficult to understand some things and learn in a relatively easy way, but I never dedicated myself to really studying the language and didn’t learn much.

When I returned to work in France a year later, I met the love of my life, a French girl, Anoush, and… What better reason to truly learn the language, isn’t it? I still have a lot to improve in my French, but I can already consider myself a speaker of it. I have entered that realm called la francophonie.

The Magic of Creation

Both my girlfriend and I are passionate about creation, about art.

We have been active for years in literary creation (in the form of novels, poetry, opera…) and our imagination is in constant activity every day. We were excited to bring our passion to a new medium and share our linguistic experiences in a unique way. What if we share our love for languages in a creative way through YouTube? Thus was born OneStepFurther, with which we not only seek to share our love for languages and their cultures but also to create a space where each video is a window to the linguistic diversity of the world, woven with the passion and creativity that define us as lovers of art and expression.

Le Canario Interlinguista

The first gem that emerged from OneStepFurther was Le Canario Interlinguista.

Initially conceived as a podcast in Interlingua, this project has gradually evolved into a captivating series of videos where I finally broke the barrier of speaking only into the microphone and addressed the camera directly. In Le Canario Interlinguista, we not only explore the vast universe of the Romance-speaking world, but we also dive into its cultural layers, unravel the complexities of its history, and analyze the most current events. From topics covering literature to everyday aspects, this space is designed to connect and resonate with all those passionate about the richness and diversity of the Romance world. And here is where you, our dear viewers, can come in! Is there any particular topic you would like us to explore together? Any comments or questions you want to share? We are always ready to weave new linguistic and cultural stories with you on Le Canario Interlinguista.

Hablemos Español

Simultaneously, Hablemos Español emerged, a sibling of Le Canario Interlinguista but with its specific focus on the Hispanic world.

This podcast, of a more academic nature, delves into the analysis and explanation of the rich Spanish language and literature. In Hablemos Español,
OneStepFurther finds a channel where we immerse ourselves in the vast world of Spanish, sometimes exploring alone and on other occasions accompanied. A highlight was the interview I had the privilege of conducting with lexicographer Iván Ramírez Sánchez, where we explored together the fascinating work of the Royal Spanish Academy. While delving into academic rigor, we always seek ways to make these topics resonate with a diverse and passionate audience. Do you have any suggestions for future episodes or questions you would like us to answer? We are here to build an enriching dialogue in Hablemos Español.

Pardon My French

Later, Anoush, my girlfriend, ventured into the world of audiovisual creation with Pardon My French, a project focused on the French language and culture for OneStepFurther.

To add a unique touch, she incorporated a creative component in her videos, sharing her creative process while engaging in various formats, whether creating with slime or painting canvases from scratch.

In each episode, viewers can delight in her sweet voice as she explores fascinating topics of language and culture in French, adapting her language for those who are learning the language. Additionally, she poses small linguistic challenges to help viewers on their learning journey. We want Pardon My French to be more than an educational space; we want it to be a creative and stimulating corner. Do you have creative ideas for future episodes or any questions you want us to address? We are here to build together with you on Pardon My French.

Music

Later, my artistic exploration led me to a different creative realm. I began recording and producing rap songs in different languages, seeking a new form of expression and play with language.

In the music playlist, ‘Le Maestro’ in Interlingua stands out, where I share my experience of creating rap in this language, singing in a way that becomes a kind of metarap. Tackling more controversial and conscious topics, I also wrote, recorded, and produced ‘Vuelve la huidiza rata,’ where I criticize a certain character of the Spanish society through décimas with a hard rap base. Each song is a linguistic and creative adventure, and I would love for you, our community, to be part of this exploration. Do you have any specific themes you would like us to explore in future musical projects? We are open to suggestions and excited to build together with you in this new dimension of OneStepFurther.

And beyond…

Finally, and though this last adventure has not yet begun, starting next year, I am excited about the idea of having you join me on my journey to learn my seventh language: Mandarin Chinese.

I plan to share my learning experience through videos, where you can follow my progress, share your own experiences, and offer suggestions to help me improve.

This platform will become our space for linguistic exchange, where each correction and piece of advice will be a step further in my journey to fluency in Mandarin.

What would you like to see in these videos? Any advice for the first steps in learning Mandarin Chinese? I am eager to start this new phase and learn together.

All these subprojects that make up OneStepFurther will not be alone. We plan to accompany them with vlogs, giving you a behind-the-scenes look and sharing more personal aspects of our journeys.

The vlogs will be an additional window to connect with you more closely. Also, we are excited to address special topics according to occasions, whether it’s a Christmas special full of festive joy or the visual storytelling of a journey we undertake. We want this space to be as much yours as ours. Is there any specific topic you would love to see in a vlog or in a special? Any event you would like us to share images and thoughts about? We are open to your ideas and excited to explore new horizons together on OneStepFurther.

(This post is a translation of the original one)