In this episode of Whereabouts Tales, I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Azren The Language Nerd (https://azrenthelanguagenerd.com), a man whose life story is as rich and multi-layered as the languages he speaks. From the moment we started, I was captivated by his unique upbringing, speaking Gujarati, French, and English at home, a childhood that really sparked my own reflections as I’m raising a bilingual son myself (01:36). We delved deep into how growing up with multiple languages isn’t a hindrance, but rather a powerful developmental tool, shaping his brain from an early age.
Azren shared a fascinating story about his exchange trip to rural France at just 15, a pivotal experience that ignited his passion and determination to truly "become French" (00:39). This commitment to cultural immersion, even as a teenager, set the stage for a compelling discussion on how language proficiency can influence our personality and interactions, and the subtle yet profound impact of cultural norms (06:42). We laughed about the importance of saying "bonjour" in France (08:09) and the "pronunciation privilege" (14:30) that can disarm strangers and build instant connection, a concept I’ve certainly witnessed in my own life.
Beyond his linguistic prowess, I was particularly inspired by Azren's entrepreneurial journey. From running a window cleaning franchise (23:08) while still in university to founding Calgary Language Nerds, his path wasn’t linear. He openly discussed the initial struggles, the "baby steps" (28:56) he had to take, and how acknowledging his ego (34:03) was a massive hurdle. What truly impressed me about CLN’s philosophy is their focus on providing a reliable pathway to fluency (38:16) and their unique hiring approach, prioritizing human connection and the ability to learn over prior teaching experience (41:57).
We also touched upon the future of language learning in an age of AI translation and wondered aloud if we’ll still need to speak languages in 10 years (53:45). Azren’s perspective on humans’ innate desire for skill, even when technology offers shortcuts, was incredibly thought-provoking and offered a hopeful outlook. Our conversation culminated in a profound discussion about resilience, gratitude, and how seeing life’s hard experiences as "features" rather than "bugs" (1:11:05) can shift our entire perspective.
This episode is packed with personal insights, cultural revelations, and entrepreneurial wisdom. Azren's story is a testament to the power of passion, persistence, and an open mind.
