About Me — Esteban Ramirez
Writing about my language learning processes so that you can do and achieve the same or even better.
Welcome to my language-learning journey
Hello and welcome! I’m Esteban Ramirez, but you can call me “Este” for language and cultural ease.
I was born and raised in Pereira, Colombia, a vibrant city located in the heart of the country’s coffee region (el eje cafetero).
On paper, I’m an English teacher with nearly 8 years of experience helping people learn and master new languages. But my journey doesn’t stop there — I’ve gone deeper into management, communications, finance, cuisine, and technology, all while honing my intercultural and language skills.
My Roots and Adventures
Coming from a medium-sized family with 18 aunts and uncles and 78 cousins, I was never short of company, despite being an only child.
For 25 years, I lived in Pereira and Medellín, either with my parents or on my own. A transformative road trip around Colombia and encounters with travelers on the Pacific coast sparked my decision to move abroad.
Europe became my destination — thank you, Bibi!
Over the past 5 years, I’ve journeyed through Europe, living in Germany, Italy, and Poland for over a year each. During this time, I’ve:
- Met hundreds of incredible people
- Explored countless villages, towns, and cities
- Learned three new languages
- Acquired life-changing skills
- Landed dream jobs
This journey has been one of self-discovery, filled with challenges, joy, and constant learning.
As Otto von Bismarck wisely said, “Fools learn from experience. I prefer to learn from the experience of others.”
A Life Full of Interests
I have a passion for just about everything under the sun. Life is too short to focus on just one thing, so I leverage my main skills in language learning and teaching to uncover the world’s cultures, work styles, and people.
The Writing Journey
Two years ago, I began writing reflections on language learning and the perceptions surrounding this beautiful endeavor. However, consistency wasn’t my strong suit then, and I let it slip.
For the past three months, I’ve been dedicated to improving my German using a system I put together. I’ve been documenting every session in both video and writing. Today, June 27, 2024, I’ve decided to revive my writing and share my insights with you.
This time, my writing focuses on capturing all those elements you need to consider when learning a foreign language, and they include suggestions on how to go through this process more efficiently and with less pain.
Why Follow My Reflections?
I consider myself proficient in Spanish, English, German, and Italian, with plans to expand to French, Portuguese, Polish, and possibly an Asian language like Chinese or Arabic.
Through my articles, you’ll experience firsthand the effort, consistency, and dedication I’ve poured into language learning. You’ll learn from my successes and failures, gaining valuable insights for your own language-learning journey.
Join me as I share stories, reflections, and lessons from my adventures around Europe and my quest to master new languages.
Happy learning!
