In Spring 2026, Evan Beard, a fourth-year student double majoring in Linguistics and Romance Studies, minoring in International Relations and FLAS Fellow for Portuguese, has been working as a Portuguese language intern with the Greater Columbus Sister Cities International program. Below, Evan reflects on his experience and the opportunity to use the language in real-life situations.

Over the past four months, I have had the pleasure of working with Greater Columbus Sister Cities International (GCSCI) as a Portuguese language intern. Working with GCSCI has allowed me to further improve my literacy and language production skills through a deep investigation of the municipal news and governmental structure of Curitiba, our sister city in Brazil, translation practice with resource documents, and the opportunity to organize and carry out social events with the Brazilian community here in Columbus. The experience has been very gratifying, as it allows me to put my Portuguese into practice in my community while helping to establish stronger connections between my region and our diplomatic partners overseas.

As a student of Romance languages with a minor in international relations, this internship has allowed me to combine two of my academic pursuits by being a part of diplomatic correspondence and the cultivation of deeper relationships across borders, which is something that I greatly value and find to be crucial in the modern age. In particular, in working with GCSCI, I have gained a clearer understanding of how cultural diplomacy operates on a local level, and the ways in which language serves as an important tool in fostering mutual understanding and cooperation.

Beyond the academic skills I have developed, this internship has allowed me to become more deeply linked with the Brazilian community in Columbus. Engaging directly with community members and participating in cultural events has allowed me to see the real-world impact of grass-roots diplomacy organizations, not just in the abstract sense, but as meaningful relationships and connections between people. It has been very rewarding and special to contribute to events that focus on disseminating useful information, showcase the arts and culture of my city, and bring people together.