Where are they now? Meet 7-week Portuguese Immersion Student: Joseph (Pako) Molefi
Now the director of an International Relations & Management Consulting firm, Pako reflects on the dedication of the faculty and staff as well as the diversity of the community at our Portuguese School.
During my first visit to Luanda, Angola, a dynamic city on the coast of the Gulf Guinea, everyone I met asked me how come I speak such good Portuguese and where did I learn?
That is when I started to tell the story about the summer of 2010 at the Escola de Português at Middlebury College in Vermont. At the Language Schools, I had enrolled in the accelerated Portuguese course for Spanish speakers, so it was a big shock when the language pledge kicked in and all comms were in Portuguese, so accents and tones switched, and I had big struggle with grasping complex concepts and moving beyond just greetings to having a conversation, but in few weeks that would all change.
Two aspects were a big highlight for me at the Escola de Português.
Firstly was the diversity of the background of the participants. I had classmates that were college sophomores, juniors, graduates students, PHD students and researchers from across the US, diplomats and officials from international organizations, NGOs, private companies, law enforcement agencies, and we even had an award winning musician in our class. So, all those interactions in the beautiful Vermont summer days were a unique privilege especially for me as a college junior pondering the path to follow after college. This experience improved my confidence and created trusted networks and friendships that continue today.
Secondly, was the competence of the faculty and staff. They were very passionate and experienced lecturers on topics such as language instruction, linguistics, art, economics, history, and that made the total immersion experience invaluable. The teaching assistants were also world class. The support during extracurricular activities such as sports and cultural events, and the tidbits about Brazilian culture made all the difference when visiting the country.
Where am I now?
Post graduation, I spent several years working for companies across Africa and Brasil. I also furthered my Portuguese with the IGR-Instituto Guimarães Rosa the Brazilian Cultural Center.
I am currently director of Latina-AB, a company that I co-founded in 2019 - an International Relations & Management Consulting firm, mainly based in Botswana, however with a focus on Southern Africa & the PALOPs - Países Africanos de Língua Oficial Portuguesa.
The PALOPs are the 5 Portuguese speaking countries in Africa being Angola, Moçambique, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau and São Tomé e Príncipe. We work with high level government officials, international organizations, US criminal justice and law enforcement agencies, assisting with Portuguese/English interpretation (simultaneous and consecutive). We also assist with negotiations and VIP protocol, among others.
One of services that we most enjoy at Latina-AB is collaborating with entrepreneurs on advisory services, especially in the markets of Angola and Moçambique and when they are sourcing products from Brazilian companies. I also serve on the Panel of experts/ arbitrators on Trade between Southern Africa and MERCOSUR.
It is always refreshing when I meet other alumni from the Middlebury Language Schools in my travels even if they are from the other languages such as Spanish or French, our common “saudade” for the summer in Vermont always unites us.
OBRIGADO.
Pako Molefi
Portuguese School ‘10
Middlebury College ‘11
Director: Latina-AB Pty Ltd
website: www.latina-ab.co.bw
email: admin@latina-ab.co.bw / joepakomolefi@gmail.com
WhatsApp: available on request
Check out our Portuguese School here!
Applications for Summer 2026 open on November 1.
