Liam R.

Why did you choose to study at WISLI? What motivated you to choose our program? 

I was interested in learning Portuguese because it is a Less Commonly Taught Language and it was relevant to my research interests.The SIPI program was great because it offered an opportunity to intensively focus on the language as well as to have opportunities to practice, like at the Bate-Papo conversation table

How has learning a less commonly taught languages enriched your personal and professional life?

Learning Portuguese was a great experience that I truly enjoyed. Not only that, but learning about cultural items like music, food, or even popular Instagram accounts in Brazil offers a great way to learn about and interact with more people.

What about WISLI/UW-Madison stands out to you? 

UW-Madison was a really beautiful campus, and coming from Los Angeles, it was really surprising to me how walkable the city itself was too. The lake and beautiful trails offer a great backdrop when studying Portuguese. The instructors were really amazing and created many engaging and highly memorable classes.

How do you plan to apply proficiency of your target language and cultural skills to your personal/professional journey?

As a History major, I plan to use Portuguese to read historical documents in order to conduct research! I am interested in studying public health systems and especially Brazil’s SUS. Besides that, just having the language and cultural skills are beneficial to my path because of the additional context and access to documents that they provide.

What were some of the highlights of your program? What events did you particularly enjoy?

I really enjoyed the baking event that we did with SIPI. We made pão de queijo, and it was a lot of fun working together to try and end up with an edible product at the end. Luckily, we were able to properly follow Levi’s recipe, and it turned out quite well.

What role did the WISLI Tuition Scholarship play when you were making decisions? How would you encourage other students who might be interested in the scholarship to apply?

The WISLI Tuition Scholarship was very influential in making my decision. I encourage those interested in it to take the initiative and apply! Go for it!

What advice would you give to students who want to study the same language as you?

Practice! Just talking to others or listening to Portuguese was so helpful in helping me get used to the language and to improve my abilities.

What is your favorite expression in the language you studied this summer?

Legal!