Here is a small sample of UPF students from all over the world who have learned Catalan explaining why they did so and what it has meant to them.

Every year there are hundreds of incoming international students –Erasmus, master’s or doctoral students– at UPF. And although both the duration of their stay and their communications needs and goals vary greatly, many of them choose also to learn Catalan –by attending a course, by learning it with their language partner, by practising it with their faculty or flat mates, or on their own. And in the end they are able to speak it more or less fluently, or are at least able to say some words or phrases in Catalan.

Learning a language is much more than substituting one word with another; to learn a language is to want to get to know the country and society receiving you; to want to understand them; to want, somehow, to become a part of it; and, above all, a great sign of respect towards the people who speak it, towards their culture and their country. Because, as Nelson Mandela once said, “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart”.

Of course, you do not need to learn many languages ​or learn them perfectly. Often just a small number of words is enough to reach the heart of the people we are talking to, and melt it! We encourage you, then, to learn and to use albeit just a few words in Catalan. And do not be afraid to make mistakes; mistakes make us human and allow us to improve! With a simple ‘bon dia’, a ‘com estàs?’ or an ‘adéu’ you will be showing an attitude, a willingness, respect, that will no doubt bring a smile to people’s faces and will open up their hearts! In this regard, do not miss the interesting speech by the Dutch communicator Marleen Laschet, “Speak to the heart”, which perfectly illustrates this issue.