My Life in English

Sie ist eine bekannte Djane und Radiomoderatorin, wurde in Ecuador geboren, ist aber in Deutschland aufgewachsen. Hier erzählt sie uns, wo sie einen freien Nachmittag in NYC verbringen würde.

Radio presenter Larissa Riess

What makes English important to you?

I work as a radio presenter and Djane, so a lot of what I do is focused on music from the English-speaking world. It’s important to me to understand the lyrics of the songs I play on the radio or at festivals.

When was your first English lesson, and what can you remember about it?

My very first English lesson was in class five (when I was 11 years old), and even today I know off by heart the irritating welcome song that our teacher taught us on the first day.

Who is your favourite English-language author, actor or musician?

I love the US actor Sarah Jessica Parker in the series Sex and the City. I know almost all the episodes off by heart in English — to me, the original was much more gripping than the German version.

Which song could you sing at least a few lines of in English?

Actually, I brought out an album myself, Larissa White — Firebird, which is all in English. I can sing all those.

What is your favourite food from the English-speaking world?

When I was at school in Australia, I ate Vegemite every day. That was amazing.

Which person (living or dead) from the English-speaking world would you most like to meet?

That would have to be the American producer and musician Rl Grime because I would want to tell him that he is my greatest inspiration in deciding which music to play when I am Dj’ing.

Which is your favourite city in the English-speaking world?

Winton in Queensland, Australia — a place with only 875 inhabitants in the outback.

What special tip would you give a friend who was going to visit this city?

Take a book with you.

If you could be any place right now in the English-speaking world, where would it be?

In the Irish pub round the corner.

Have you ever worked in an Englishspeaking environment? If so, for how long, and what was it like?

One year in Buderim in Queensland, Australia. I went to school there. School is definitely work.

When did you last use English (before answering this questionnaire)?

Yesterday evening, at O’reilly’s Pub in Heidelberg. Don’t ask me why, but at some point, everyone suddenly started speaking English.

What is your favourite English phrase?

WTF. A lovely untranslatable phrase.

Which phrase do you use most when you speak English?

“WTF?!”

How do you improve your English?

I watch almost all TV series in the English original. At the moment, it’s Jersey Shore on MTV. Don’t ask.

If you found yourself with a free afternoon in New York, what would you do?

In New York, I would go straight to the house where Carrie Bradshaw (played by Sarah Jessica Parker) lived in the series Sex and the City.

Is there anything in your home from the English-speaking world?

There are Polaroid photos from my road trip through the US last year. And there are probably some roaches from the cheap motels.