It is not just our students who learn a new language for love! Meet three of our teachers (and their partners), who navigate multilingual relationships. They share how knowing each other’s native tongue strengthens their bond.
Xuehan Liu & David Weinreb
Town: Slingerlands
Jobs: Xuehan teaches Mandarin Chinese at CRLC; David is a radiologist
How and where did you meet your partner?
While I was teaching Mandarin at Boston University, one of my colleagues recommended me to a young man named David who was looking for a tutor to help him improve his Mandarin proficiency. Our first meeting was on BU campus along the beautiful Charles River. We had a good first impression on each other and soon developed a romantic relationship.
Was language a barrier to communication in the early days?
Luckily, there was no language barrier between us since I speak English fluently and David can converse in Mandarin pretty well.
What motivated you to learn English and Mandarin Chinese?
I started learning English at middle school in China. I found the pronunciation and grammar of English fascinating. When I was in college, I chose to major in British and American literature.
David has a keen interest in Chinese history and culture. He thinks a good command of Mandarin helps him gain a deeper understanding of Chinese history and culture. He had learned Mandarin for several years before we met. His best friend in college is Chinese, so he started learning Mandarin from his friend. As his interest in Chinese culture and history increases, he had some formal classroom learning in a Chinese language school in New York. He had travelled to China multiple times to learn Mandarin and explore Chinese culture.
How has it helped your relationship?
Knowing each other’s native language has significantly enhanced our relationship. It allows us to understand and communicate at a deeper level. It also enables us to respect cultural differences and build strong connections. My daughter is also learning Mandarin. The shared experience of Chinese language and culture has strengthened our family bond.
I have always loved teaching Mandarin, but I would have never imagined my passion for teaching would bring me such a “bonus” – a loving husband and a happy family!
Read about students learning a new language for love!
Evelin Börner & Tom Falciano
Town: Pleasanton, TX
Job: Evelin teaches German at CRLC; Tom work in Information Technology (IT)
How and where did you meet?
Tom: We met at a philosophy conference in the summer of 2015 and kept bumping into each other at similar events afterward—thanks to our shared values and interests.
Was language a barrier in the beginning?
Tom: Not really—no, Evelin is very fluent in English. There were maybe some minor cultural differences early on, but nothing language-related. We do still occasionally have little disagreements about everyday habits (punctuality, tidiness, reliability, that kind of thing).
What motivated you to learn English and German?
Evelin: Tom is a native English speaker and learned German mainly so he could communicate with my mostly German-speaking family during visits to Germany (especially with the in-laws).
I started learning English very early because I wanted to open up the world to myself—I’ve always been particularly drawn to British culture. I’ve been speaking English fluently since I started school at age six. I took English as my main subject in high school and later earned what’s equivalent to a master’s degree in Anglistics (English linguistics, cultural studies, and literature).
So when we met, my English was already very strong, while he didn’t speak a single word of German.
Had you studied the language before?
Evelin: Tom had already studied Spanish and French, but German was completely new to him.
How has learning the language enriched your relationship?
Evelin: For Tom, knowing German has given him a much deeper understanding of cultural references and nuances.
For me, strong English has obviously opened many doors—professionally and personally—long before we met.
Were there any surprises or unexpected benefits from learning another language?
Evelin: For Tom, switching from Romance languages (Latin-based) to a Germanic language like German was a real eye-opener. It actually helped him understand the structure and roots of English much more clearly.
Listen to Xuehan & Miriam on WAMC radio!
Miriam and Phil Rogers
Town: Albany
Job: Miriam teaches Spanish at CRLC; Phil is a graphic designer
How and where did you meet your partner?
We met in New York City when I was on vacation there and he was working.
Was language a barrier to communication in the early days?
No, it wasn’t (because I spoke English.)
What motivated you to learn English and Spanish?
I have always liked English since I was young. I studied English both in school and at university in my native Peru.
How has it helped your relationship?
English has helped our relationship because we communicate in English every day. Also, he makes an effort to speak Spanish with my relatives, and they enjoy it
Any surprises or other ways taking another language has impacted you?
Every now and then, there are ways native speakers say things that sound odd to me.
Read why Miriam is teaching Spanish to Market32 warehouse leaders
Do you have a favorite word or expression?
We speak mainly English but our favorite is the Spanish word “Caramba”. It doesn’t have one exact translation in English. It’s an interjection, and the meaning depends on the situation. It can be used to express surprise (Wow! Gosh!) or mild annoyance/frustration (Darn!, Shoot!)
Anything else you want to share?
It is believed that love is the universal language, which is true, but knowing more than one language helps a lot!
Ready to learn your new love language? Join a class or sign up for one-on-one instruction. We offer 12 languages, from beginner to advanced. Contact us for more information.