Meet our Festival Interns

Denise Kua Sze Min

Denise, a master’s student in Forensic Science at Northumbria University, brought creativity and enthusiasm to her role as an intern at the NE Festival of Languages. Passionate about content creation, photography, and filming, she was involved in multiple areas, including event coverage, article writing, and producing visual content for social media.

She particularly enjoyed the chance to engage with both organisers and participants, while also learning about different languages and cultures – Japanese being a personal highlight. Although she initially found her first event slightly daunting, especially when trying to perfect camera settings and capture the right moments, she quickly adapted. This experience not only boosted her confidence, especially when it comes to writing, but also sharpened her ability to think and act quickly, ensuring she did not miss key moments.

Denise described her overall experience as “perfect”, reflecting both her personal growth and the rewarding atmosphere of the festival. She found the event to be both blissful and engaging, not only for the children involved but also for the interns. Agreeing with the views of the teachers she spoke with, Denise emphasised the importance of such events in introducing young learners to new languages and cultures. She noted that this early exposure helps children develop cultural awareness and confidence, especially when stepping outside their comfort zones and beyond the classroom.

Rebeca Villarroel Altamirano

Rebeca, a bachelor’s student at the University of Newcastle studying Media, Communication and Cultural Studies, took part in the NE Festival of Languages to develop her skills and gain hands-on experience in content creation and teamwork. Her role, much like Denise’s, involved a range of responsibilities, including photography, filming, editing, and writing articles for publication.

She described her time as an intern as both interesting and rewarding, particularly valuing the opportunity to engage with and learn about different cultures. Rebeca especially enjoyed working with children, highlighting how capturing their reactions and enthusiasm during events was one of the most fulfilling aspects of her role. She appreciated the chance to explore a variety of cultures, languages, and traditions, and to translate those experiences into engaging content that could be shared with a wider audience.

Amarnath Sasidharan Pillai

Amarnath, another Northumbria student, joined the NE Festival of Languages to gain practical experience and develop his skills in media and communication. Currently studying Business Analytics with Advanced Practice, he already has experience covering events and capturing key moments – something clearly reflected in his social media work. During the festival, he was involved in documenting events through photography and videography, as well as editing content for social media.

He highlighted that events like these offer valuable opportunities for both participants and organisers to learn, build confidence, strengthen communication skills, and expand their networks. For younger attendees, he believes the festival plays an important role in fostering understanding and respect for different cultures, while also providing meaningful real-world experiences.

What he enjoyed most was meeting new people, experiencing different cultures, and capturing these moments, describing the experience as “enriching”. He was particularly impressed by how diverse and engaging this year’s events were, noting that he learned a great deal and found the experience both rewarding and valuable. He added that the festival inspired him to explore more cultures and further develop his creativity, while also helping him build essential skills for a future career in media and content creation. Looking ahead, he expressed interest in seeing a wider range of Asian and European cultures represented in future events.

Siyu (Suki) Zhang

Another University of Newcastle student, Siyu, who studies International Multimedia Journalism, took on a wide-ranging role during the festival. Her work included interviewing participants, writing articles, and contributing to content creation across both photography and film. She was drawn to the opportunity as a way to gain practical experience that is closely related to her academic focus, while also supporting her personal interest in exploring different cultures.

Reflecting on her time at the festival, Siyu described the experience as both exciting and enjoyable. She valued the chance to meet a diverse range of people and to engage with a variety of languages and cultural perspectives. Interviewing participants stood out as a particular highlight, not only because it relates directly to her field of study, but also because it allowed her to understand how individuals experienced the festival and to share those perspectives with a wider audience.

She was especially impressed by the enthusiasm, creativity, and strong learning engagement demonstrated by the students involved in the workshops.

Katarina Trajković

The final intern, Katarina, is a master’s student in Conservation of Fine Art (Easel Paintings) at Northumbria University. Their role focused on the more journalistic side of the festival, including event coverage, interviewing participants, and writing and editing articles, alongside some photography. After taking a break from journalism, they saw the NE Festival of Languages as the ideal opportunity to return to it, combining their previous experience with their interest in languages and cross-cultural exchange.

Katarina described their initial experience as nerve-racking, though this quickly changed. They found both organisers and participants to be patient and welcoming, which helped build their confidence and made the experience far more enjoyable. For them, the highlight was capturing and sharing the genuine joy and excitement of those involved. Observing young pupils being introduced to new languages and cultures for the first time was particularly rewarding, especially witnessing their curiosity and enthusiasm as they engaged with unfamiliar ideas and experiences. Through this role, Katarina strengthened their communication and interviewing skills and developed greater confidence in photography, an area they had previously felt unsure about.