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Christopher Hughes MBE @chrislinguist.bsky.social · 22h

I'm proud to be described as a 'linguist', because that means that I'm curious about other cultures, welcoming of other traditions, eager to discover more of the world, open to diverse perspectives, excited about new experiences. There's a whole lot more to linguists than vocab and grammar.

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Christopher Hughes MBE @chrislinguist.bsky.social · 3d

Another language is not just a language. It’s a window on other peoples, cultures and beliefs. It cuts through conflicts and controversies. It brings people together and settles arguments. Another language is understanding, solidarity and friendship. Languages are powerful.

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Christopher Hughes MBE @chrislinguist.bsky.social · 5d

One of the (many) great things about learning another language is the joy of being understood. Then comes the new relationship with the world, the spark that lights up another culture, the thrill of speaking that first sentence. Suddenly the life around you feels alive, vibrant, full of possibility.

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Christopher Hughes MBE @chrislinguist.bsky.social · 8d

Translation is no mere transfer of words. It’s the art of conveying messages across borders. Every day, in multiple fields, I experience how human translators weave connection, culture and meaning. On #InternationalTranslationDay, we honour the craft that brings people together.

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Christopher Hughes MBE @chrislinguist.bsky.social · 12d

Europe’s languages are bridges - linking past and future, neighbours and continents. Each tongue opens doors to others: Spanish to Catalan, Galician and Basque; German to Dutch and Frisian; French to Romanian and beyond. On #EuropeanDayofLanguages, celebrate connection through diversity.

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Christopher Hughes MBE @chrislinguist.bsky.social · 15d

To speak another language is to expand your horizon. It reshapes how you sense the world, deepens how you connect with others, and transforms how you live. It opens doors to ideas and ways of being you’d never have imagined. That’s why languages matter to us all, wherever your journey leads.

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Christopher Hughes MBE @chrislinguist.bsky.social · 19d

Languages aren’t just school subjects - they’re keys to connection. Portuguese got me breakfast first in Cascais, Spanish saved a New York taxi fare, and Albanian made me feel local in Pristina. A language creates opportunities and leads to unanticipated moments. albarolanguages.com/2022/08/07/w...

Who knows where languages can take you? My language journey (so far…)

I think my love of languages and ultimately wanting to work with languages stemmed from primary school. I was fascinated with words, books, reading, writing – even punctuation and grammar – f…

albarolanguages.com

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Christopher Hughes MBE @chrislinguist.bsky.social · 24d

Languages aren’t a luxury. They’re how we learn to listen, experience, and see the world in all its diversity and complexity. Every student should have that opportunity. Languages are essential to the curriculum, because they connect us to people, stories and perspectives we can’t afford to lose.

Christopher Hughes MBE @chrislinguist.bsky.social · 27d

There are almost 7,000 languages in the world. At least one of them could be your next adventure, your next opportunity, your next connection. That's nearly 7,000 ways to shape your world view and celebrate humanity. There's something for everyone, whatever your motivation and however you start.

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Christopher Hughes MBE @chrislinguist.bsky.social · Sep 7

Languages feed into every subject in school, and make every subject broader and more universally applicable. Another language is not one subject; it's a piece of every field of human knowledge. It's history, geography, maths and science through a different lens. It's a transformative experience.

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Christopher Hughes MBE @chrislinguist.bsky.social · Sep 6

What can you do with languages? Open doors to new worlds.
Broker peace or strike deals. Bring stories, science and sport to every corner of the globe. See history through fresh eyes. Turn strangers into friends. Connect, persuade, inspire. The better question? What can’t you do with languages?

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Christopher Hughes MBE @chrislinguist.bsky.social · Sep 2

Every language I’ve learned has opened a door I didn’t know was there - to friendships, impromptu chats, late-night laughter and unexpected belonging. Because sometimes, speaking a few words in someone else’s language can change the story of your life. albarolanguages.com/2025/09/01/o...

One Conversation Away: The Adventures Waiting Behind Every Language You Learn

When people ask me why I’ve spent so much of my life learning languages, I tend to smile and say something along the lines of: “Because speaking someone else’s language opens doors that don’t even …

albarolanguages.com

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Christopher Hughes MBE @chrislinguist.bsky.social · Aug 31

If you know some French, why not give Romanian a try? Not only is Bucharest known as 'Little Paris', but Romanian words like 'om, creion, machiaj & sondaj' are familiar to learners of French. What better way to celebrate Romanian on #RomanianLanguageDay! albarolanguages.com/2024/01/24/r...

Romanian: Romance with a Twist

After most of the ‘major’ Romance languages (Spanish, French, Catalan, Portuguese and Italian) had firmly embedded themselves in my heart and mind, there was one more, winking at me and beckoning a…

albarolanguages.com

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Christopher Hughes MBE @chrislinguist.bsky.social · Aug 30

If ti vuls discurrer a language but nu înțelegi all the right woorden, you still یاد خواهی گرفت a lot by dizer what you can 说出, even if es scheint dir tre malfacila. Soon, your jezik will lacharol and jy kan fill in the gaps. Languages are all about communication and connection.

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Christopher Hughes MBE @chrislinguist.bsky.social · Aug 28

Learn another language and you really see other people. You find common ground. You make human connections. You enjoy new experiences. You celebrate difference. You step out of your bubble. All your senses are heightened. Learn another language, and you're a citizen of the world.

Christopher Hughes MBE @chrislinguist.bsky.social · Aug 25

When I started learning “rarer” languages, I was told it was a waste of time. And yet, Albanian, Basque & Romanian shaped a life richer than I imagined. Languages are not just a skill; they lead to adventure, spark curiosity and connect us to people and the world. albarolanguages.com/2024/05/19/f...

From Basque to Breakthroughs – the Untapped Power of Learning Any Language

As a child, I was frequently advised against learning certain languages. “Don’t waste your time with Albanian, Basque, or Romanian,” I was often told. Little did I know then that those very languag…

albarolanguages.com

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Christopher Hughes MBE @chrislinguist.bsky.social · Aug 24

When I greet people in their own language - Albanian, Romanian, Polish - their faces light up. In those moments, barriers dissolve, connections are made. Every interaction brings breadth, warmth, strength and richness to the party. It’s better when we welcome, listen and connect.

Christopher Hughes MBE @chrislinguist.bsky.social · Aug 21

Well done to everyone achieving a language GCSE today - Spanish, French, German, Polish, Chinese or any other! You’ve taken the first big step on an exciting lifelong journey, filled with new perspectives, new faces and new possibilities. It’ll take you beyond your imagination.

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Christopher Hughes MBE @chrislinguist.bsky.social · Aug 20

Another language is about more than words and grammar. It's about people and connections, and stories and traditions. It's about identity and soul, curiosity and love, and the soft, yet dramatic transformation that happens when another world irresistibly becomes part of your own.

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Christopher Hughes MBE @chrislinguist.bsky.social · Aug 17

For me, languages started as a childhood curiosity and became a lifelong adventure - from classrooms to new countries, from strangers to lifelong friends. Wherever you start, your language journey will change how you see the world, and take you in new directions. albarolanguages.com/2022/08/07/w...

Who knows where languages can take you? My language journey (so far…)

I think my love of languages and ultimately wanting to work with languages stemmed from primary school. I was fascinated with words, books, reading, writing – even punctuation and grammar – f…

albarolanguages.com

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Christopher Hughes MBE @chrislinguist.bsky.social · Aug 14

You have to admit you're an incorrigible student of German, when you spot 'damit' in a text message, and instead of assuming it's an irritated typo, you read on, searching for the main verb that's been sent to the end of the sentence...

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Christopher Hughes MBE @chrislinguist.bsky.social · Aug 14

Huge congratulations to everyone celebrating an A Level in a language today! Whether it’s French, German, Spanish, Mandarin or more, you’ve opened doors to new places, people and opportunities you can’t yet imagine. Languages enrich life and give you advantages that last a lifetime.

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Christopher Hughes MBE @chrislinguist.bsky.social · Aug 12

When you're able to engage with another person in their own language, the headlines fade and human faces come into focus. The noise of politics and propaganda dims, and in its place you hear stories of home, of loss, of love, and you realise they could just as easily be your own.

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Christopher Hughes MBE @chrislinguist.bsky.social · Aug 10

In the past 6 months, I've helped an Albanian family catch the right bus, directed Spanish schoolchildren to the train station, chatted with a Romanian taxi driver and thanked a Chinese cook for a lovely meal. Languages are about solutions and connections, and we can all make those.

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Christopher Hughes MBE @chrislinguist.bsky.social · Aug 8

Whether you learn a language in school, at home or on holiday, what matters most is the motivation to begin. Because when you do, you start to see the world less as ‘them and us’, and more as one rich, human story - full of voices, values and ways of life worth understanding.

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