On Sunday, the 17-year-old Year 11 student, who speaks five languages, heads to Germany  on the adventure of a lifetime.

Over the past three years Rohan has taught himself German and will take up a 10-week adventure with Scholarships for Australian-German Student Exchange (SAGSE).

He is one of only 10 scholarships awarded in NSW who will travel to Germany, live with a local family and experience life in the Western European country.

Despite having studied German in Year 7 at school, all his other knowledge of the language has been self taught.

“I just like the way German sounds and flows,” he said.

“German wasn’t available in years 9-10 so I taught myself.”

Using a  combination of books, apps and the internet he now places himself at intermediate level, however Nowra High language teacher Sally Leslie believes he’s better than that.

“Rohan is quite incredible,” she said.

“He is studying German by correspondence from Canberra for the HSC.”

In fact, he topped the Year 11 distance education course.

Just for good measure he has also taken up French and is studying both languages for the HSC.

“I just thought I would try French as well,” he said.

Mrs Leslie said it is the first time in many years at Nowra High, that one student, let alone a male student, was sitting both languages for the HSC.

“I don’t know why but the languages are traditionally girl dominated subjects,” she said.

Rohan said he has a fascination with languages and has also taught himself Chinese.

“I just like the look of the characters in the Chinese language when it’s written,” he said.

“I used YouTube to learn Chinese.”

When you add Maltese, which he learnt as part of his family’s heritage and English, it’s five languages he’s conversant  in.

“I just like languages,” he said.

“I suppose it’s a bit of a hobby.

“Who knows where it might lead.  Maybe teaching or even in tourism. Being able to speak so many languages would be an advantage.”

To gain his scholarship Rohan had to write an essay on why he’d be a good applicant for the scholarship. He then had to go through an interview process.

“I was ecstatic when I found out I was successful,” he said.

“I will stay with a family in Dusseldorf for 10 weeks, attend school regularly, go on a five day Wintercamp, regional days, another camp in at Berlin and then have a week to travel.”

His hosts and their siblings will also attend the camps which are organised by students who were previously involved in the program.

“It’s going to be a huge adventure,” he said.

“I’ve never been overseas before.”

Although he has nothing officially planned for his week of travel, which will be undertaken in small groups of the participants, Rohan said he would like to go to Bavaria and see some of the countryside and castles.

Mrs Leslie took part in a similar experience and has been a supporter of the scholarship scheme ever since.

“People didn’t travel 40 years ago as much as they do know, so this is a great opportunity” she said.

“It is the first time in a number of years that boys actually outnumber the girls on the trip. There are five boys and four girls.

“It is great to see public school students take part in the program. It is predominantly dominated by private or Sydney school students.

“It’s great to see a country boy getting an opportunity .”

The SAGSE program aims to give students an insight into a foreign culture and build friendships between the youth of these two countries.

Each year approximately 30 students in years 11 and 12 from NSW, Western Australia and Victoria are selected to participate.