Sean Y

Get to know our guest:

Since 1978, Seán L. Young has had a passion for languages. He has studied, learned, and taught over 60 languages and has achieved conversational fluency in half of them. He is the founder of Young's Language Consulting and the creator of The Rosetta Stone Challenge and the Speak Up! language series. In the 1990s, he was invited to teach in schools and universities in Europe, and later, with the help of the Internet, he expanded his teaching throughout the world. After retiring in 2023, he is now working as an educational consultant, helping to change how languages are taught and learned.

How you identify (culturally/ethnically/nationality-wise)?

Sean: "I never really thought about having one particular identity. When I was learning languages and traveling through Europe and North America, I would, in a way, take on the language and culture of the region I was in. I learned how to fit in with the people. It's been over 30 years since I last traveled, but I find myself getting back to my German roots. Feeling closer and wanting to go back to my German family and friends."

Which languages circulate in your everyday life?

Sean: "At this time, the majority is English and Spanish. I currently live just a couple of streets away from a Mexican community. and I'm speaking Spanish on a daily basis. There are other communities near me, such as Vietnamese, Arab, Chinese, Korean, etc that I also go to, but not as often as the Spanish."