Episode 57 - Tiffany takes us on a journey around the world from Colombia to France to the U.S. and back again. She tells us about her adoption, growing up bilingual in France, what it was like going to an international school, how she met her husband, and how they are raising their two children multilingually. So much wisdom in this episode! Tiffany works as a communications associate at The Sabin Center for Climate Change Law so I am delighted to have this episode come out on Earth Day 2023! I love Tiffany's message that we don't have to chose which parts of our identities to embrace, we can embrace them all and celebrate our rich cultural and linguistic diversity. To find out more about Tiffany, check out her blog MamanEarth and follow her on Instagram @Maman_Earth. You can find Heather on Instagram @thefutureisbilingual, on her website or by writing to her at TFIBPodcast@gmail.com. If you enjoy this podcast, please leave a rating on your favorite podcast app and a review here. You can also buy a coffee to help support the show :)
Episode 56 - Today's episode is with Lauren from Polyglot Station and Language TV Club! She is a language enthusiast and a speech language pathologist. She tells us how she started Polyglot Station and where the idea for the Language TV Club came from. They regularly have clubs in German, Italian, French, and Spanish, but they also include other languages. The idea is we all watch the same show on our own time on Netflix and meet to talk about it in the target language. It’s the perfect way for intermediate and advanced learners to practice and continue using their language while also learning more about the culture. All learners are welcome to join and listen in if they’re not ready to speak much yet. I am personally very interested in this topic as I am teaching a Spanish course based on "Casa de Papel" (Money Heist) and I'm developing curriculum for a French class based on "Dix Pour Cent" (Call My Agent). If you're interested in learning more about these classes, check out Freestyle Languages, the company I teach for. During our chat, Laurent tells us the best and worst parts about learning a language through TV shows. She also gives us her expert opinion on whether we should or shouldn’t watch with subtitles. Lastly, she gets honest about the languages she speaks and the ones she only dabbled in, and what she learned from those experiences. I also ask her for her opinion on learning a language like Mandarin or Japanese that has a complex writing system since she speaks Mandarin. Thank you so much to Lauren for sharing her journey and fantastic ideas with us. You can get in touch with Lauren and check out all she's offering online on Instagram and on her websites: - Polyglot Station on IG - Language TV Club on IG - Polyglot Station Website - Language TV Club Website - Become a Host for Language TV Club - 8 Strategies to Improve Language Learning with T.V. Shows - Chrome extension for dual-language subtitles
Episode 55 - In this episode, Heather chats with Mackenzie, one of the hosts of the podcast The ABCs of Matrescence, about how she is raising her two children completely in French while living in the US. Mackenzie's husband is Vietnamese and she tells us about how they considered adding Vietnamese into their family language plan and what their final decision was. We get all the details on how Mackenzie's raising her children in French, her second language, and how much dedication it really takes. There is a lot of responsibility in being the primary caregiver, and even more so when you're the only person speaking a minority language to your children. Nonetheless, Mackenzie makes the great point that she finds raising her children in her second language stimulating for her, especially during this particular period in her life. Heather and Mackenzie discuss the true gift that we give our children when we make a concerted effort to raise them or teach them another language. Listen to Mackenzie and her co-host Emma's podcast The ABCs of Matrescence Follow Mackenzie and her cost Emma on Instagram During this episode Mackenzie mentioned: Concordia Language Villages and Tonies
Episode 54 - Looking for new ways to practice your language without breaking the bank? No matter what language you're learning or how advanced or rusty you are, this episode gives you close to 40 ideas to try without spending a penny. Let me know if I forgot something or what you favorite tip is! You can find me on Instagram @thefutureisbilingual, on my website or by writing to me at TFIBPodcast@gmail.com. If you enjoy this podcast, please let a rating on your favorite podcast app and a review here. You can also buy me a coffee to show your appreciation :) --- Resources mentioned in the episode: Free game night on Jan. 11th in French and Spanish with Freestyle Languages!! Free monthly events in French and Spanish with Freestyle Languages *If you're a new student with Freestyle, use my code HEATHER15 to get 15% of group classes, private tutoring, Saturday cafés, resources and more! You can take a placement test on our website or write to me and I'll help you decide.* Hoopla & Libby - library apps for ebooks, audiobooks, music and more MyTunerRadio - free radio stations from around the world Journaly - "Improve your language skills and connect with others through journaling" Inna's book "Trilingual me! Moi, trilingue!" - check it out or leave a review if you already know it! Elle's daily language challenge on Instagram (Also check out her podcast called Speaking Tongues to hear conversations with multilinguals) The Utalk - language learning app to practice almost any language or dialect My Darija tutor @my_arabic_diary
Episode 53 - This short episode invites you to say goodbye to 2022 and welcome in the new year with one simple question. The end of the year is an exciting time with lots of energy, but it's also a difficult time for many and can be filled with negative thoughts and self doubts. Let's focus on what we love and what brings us joy as we create plans for the new year. I will tell you about 3 things I'm currently working on doing more of to give you some examples. Other episodes from the archives to listen to this time of year: Episode 29 - How to turn goals into habits Episode 41 - Creating an immersive environment Episode 7 - How to become fluent Wishing you and yours the happiest holidays and new year filled with lots of love, joy, and most importantly health! Joyeuses fêtes et bon nouvel an ! ¡Feliz Navidad y próspero año nuevo! Buon Natale e felice anno nuovo! Wesołych świąt oraz szczęśliwego nowego roku! !كل عام وانتم بخير In altre parole by Jhumpa Lahiri Les enfants sont rois by Delphine de Vigan
Episode 52 - In this episode, Heather talks about the idea of celebrating a "weekly win" as you go about your bilingual parenting or language learning journey. What is a weekly win and why do we need them? Tune in to find out.---This idea came to life during a work meeting at Freestyle Languages, where Heather teaches French and Spanish. To learn more about our classes, teaching style, private tutoring, free monthly events, and more, check out our website at https://www.freestylelanguages.com. New students can use the code HEATHER15 to get 15% off our group classes, private tutoring, Saturday cafés and products. If you have any questions, please reach out to Heather at heather@freestylelanguages.com or Freestyle Support at support@freestylelanguages.com for help.---Enjoying this podcast? You can show your support at BuyMeACoffee or take a minute to leave a free rating and review on your favorite streaming platform or use the link here. We also appreciate you sharing the podcast with family and friends and on social media. Please tag @thefutureisbilingual so I can personally thank you for helping to spread the word <3---Follow The Future is Bilingual on Instagram or visit the website to learn more (e.g. the "about" page has links to other people's podcasts that Heather has been a guest on).
Episode 51 - Stuck in a language learning rut? Wish you had a more consistent study routine? This short episode gives you a weekly plan with different ideas for each day of the week. To see the original instagram post click here. --- Enjoy this podcast? Please take a minute to leave a rating & review here or on your favorite streaming service (Spotify, Apple podcasts, Google podcasts, etc.) You can also help support it by buying me a coffee here Click here to follow the podcast on Instagram Check out the podcast's website here Interested in being a guest on the podcast? Email Heather at TFIBpodcast@gmail.com and tell her more about your story.
Episode 50 - Today's interview is with Yoshito, also known as @multilingual_dad on Instagram. Yoshito was a guest on Episode 35 of the podcast where he told us his own story about growing up bilingual and how he and his wife are raising their two sons multilingually. In this episode, we focus on Yoshito's newest book "In Search of the Lost Words". This graphic novel is designed specifically with bilingual kids in mind while his first book was written for parents raising bilingual kids. He tells us all about where the inspiration for this new story came from, how long it took to create, how readers can customize it, and how he's launching it on kickstarter. You can support his campaign and get a copy of the book by clicking here. There are many rewards and incentives if you pledge early so check it out! Follow Yoshito on Instagram @multilingual_dad https://www.instagram.com/multilingual_dad/?hl=en Yoshito’s 2nd book: “In Search of the Lost Words – A Bilingual Time Travel Adventure” Register to get notified of the launch of the campaign: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/yoshitods/in-search-of-the-lost-words-a-bilingual-timetravel-adventure Learn more about the book and its benefits: https://www.library4multilinguals.com/about-1 Check the rewards: https://www.library4multilinguals.com/about-4 Yoshito’s 1st book: “The Parents’ Guide to Raising Multi-literate Children” Read the first chapter for free: https://www.library4multilinguals.com/the-parents-guide-book Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Parents-Guide-Raising-Multi-literate-Children-ebook/dp/B094KVT9DK/ Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Parents-Guide-Raising-Multi-literate-Children-ebook/dp/B094KVT9DK/ Resources accompanying The Parents’ Guide to Raising Multi-literate Children: https://www.library4multilinguals.com/shop Other resources for multilingual families: Yoshito's Blog: https://www.library4multilinguals.com/blog Library4Multilinguals (YT Channel): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKvLptNLZN7R3hU0rE6siVQ Activities for Multilingual Families (YT Channel): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVGHm4bFZvnzfOs5ZnPVBew
Episode 49 - Today's guest is Misty, a self-proclaimed small-town girl from the US. She and Heather, the host, met while studying abroad in France, and Misty takes us back to those first days arriving in a new country and realizing how much she still had to learn, despite years of studying French. She met her French husband there and we talk about how they've balanced their use of French and English over the years depending on their situation and goals. Misty and Heather discuss the real struggles they both face when raising multilingual children as the non-native parent. They mention specific examples and brainstorm ways to make the most out of each situation we may find ourselves in. Misty's story will inspire you and make you laugh out loud. If you'd like to get in touch with her you will find her on Instagram @mistyclover and on LinkedIn. Podcast website: https://thefutureisbilingual.wordpress.com/ Rate & review the podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/bilingual Contact Misty: https://www.instagram.com/mistyclover/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mistyprigent/
Episode 48 - Today's guest is Heidi, an American expat raising her two young children first in Italy and now in Germany. She tells us about her experience learning languages later in life and recounts some of the struggles of raising multilingual kids when you're still learning the language yourself. She shares how she dealt with expectations related to her kids' and her own language learning and how her relationship to language learning has transformed over the years. Despite being a busy mom, she tracks her language learning progress and shares with us how she decides what counts as studying. Heidi recently launched her own podcast called Love, Joy, & Languages so go check out the amazing content she is publishing there plus on her blog and Instagram page. Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/love.joyandlanguages/ Podcast - https://lovejoyandlanguages.com/podcast/ Website and blog - https://lovejoyandlanguages.com/
Episode 47 - The New Year is almost here and many of us are reflecting on what we'd like to improve in our language learning and/or family language plan. In today's episode, Heather and Marcin discuss 10 things you can try doing more of in 2022 to have more success passing on and/or learning one or more languages. No matter which tips you decide to try in 2022, remember that success comes from starting small, celebrating each win, and being consistent. Happy New Year! Bonne année ! ¡Feliz año nuevo! Buon anno! Szczęśliwego nowego roku! Frohes neues Jahr!
Episode 46 - In this episode, Inna and Heather talk about what's been happening since Inna published her bilingual children's book "Trilingual Me! Moi, trilingue!" last year. We discuss how she's been promoting her book, highlights from the year, workshops she's done for teachers, and an after-school program she ran at her local library. She also does virtual classroom visits so reach out to her if you're a teacher and interested in that. We also get into different ways to read a bilingual book depending on the child or children's level, and Inna reads us a page in both languages. The episode ends with some fun, rapid-fire questions. There's still time to order the book and get it before Christmas! Consider buying one for friends and/or family too. Readers do NOT have to be bilingual/multilingual to appreciate this inspirational story of overcoming obstacles. Visit Inna's website to see all the ways you can order a copy: http://innafigotina.weebly.com/order-her-book.html Link's to Inna's pages: * Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/trilingualme.moitrilingue/ * Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/trilingualme.moitrilingue/ * Website - http://innafigotina.weebly.com/ Links to Instagram pages mentioned in the episode: * Charlotte / The Bilingual Club - https://www.instagram.com/thebilingualclub/ * Marcela / Lion and Archer Books - https://www.instagram.com/lion.and.archer.books/ * Yoshito / Multilingual Dad - https://www.instagram.com/multilingual_dad/ * The Future Is Bilingual - https://www.instagram.com/thefutureisbilingual/
Episode 45 - Today's guest, Sandra, is a multilingual mom from Peru. She tells us how she started teaching her daughter Spanish at 4 years old and why she creates her own materials about Peruvian culture. She takes us on a trip around the world as she recounts how learned her multiple languages, how she met her husband, and how they're blending their two languages, cultures, and religions. You can find out more about Sandra, her Spanish lessons, and her Peruvian materials by visiting her website and Instagram page below: Sandra's website - https://www.laperuanitatutoring.com/ (courses, blog, etc.) Sandra's instagram - https://www.instagram.com/laperuanitatutor/
Episode 44 - This episode is a brief update about Heather's new life in Canada. She talks about some expressions she's noticed used a lot in Quebec, which courses she's taking at the University of Ottawa, and how her language studies are going.
Episode 43 - Today's guest, Natalia Simons, is the author of two bilingual children's books and the founder of Bilingo Books. Her first book is called "The Spanglish Girl/La Chica Espanglish" and her second book is "The Mexiglish Girl/La Chica Mexiglish". We talk about her motivation to write these books, how she was able to publish them on her own within the same year, and what other books she'd like to publish in the future. She tells us about growing up bilingual and why she believes her case was successful. Find out all about Natalia and her books on her website BilingoBooks Follow Natalia on Instagram @BilingoBooks Links to order the books @BilingoBooks Linktree Self Publishing on Amazon
Episode 42 - In this episode, Heather speaks with Tetsu Yung, a well-known polyglot and multilingual father in the bi/multilingual parenting community. Tetsu himself grew up multilingual and is now raising his four children to speak five languages (Mandarin, Japanese, French, English and Spanish). We first talk about his journey learning languages and all the places it took him before focusing on his family and multilingual parenting. How does his family balance five languages? One method they use for one language in particular is having an au pair. Our discussion covers the joys, struggles, and complexities of multilingual parenting, and Tetsu gives us his best parenting tips. Make sure to check out Tetsu on all of his social media platforms. In addition to his website and YouTube channel, he hosts a language conference in Montreal called LangFest and has collaborated with Richard Simcott who hosts the Polyglot Conference. He also co-hosts Raising Multilinguals Live with Rita Rosenback and Ute Limacher-Riebold. These bi-weekly interviews with experts focus on specific topics or issues in multilingual parenting. You can follow them on Facebook or YouTube. Quick links: LangFest Conference Instagram: @asktetsu Raising Multilinguals Live Facebook Raising Multilinguals Live Instagram Raising Multilinguals Live YouTube Twitter: @asktetsu Website: AskTetsu.com YouTube: Multilingual Kids - Ask Tetsu
Episode 41 - Marcin and Heather tackle the topic of language immersion. What is it? Why is it important? How can we as parents and language learners create an immersive environment for ourselves and our children? We tell you about all that and more from the perspective of a language learner and a parent raising multilingual kids. We end the episode with an ideal immersion day for each of us. We'd love to hear from you about how you're using immersion for yourself and/or your kids. --- Join the Bilingual Connect Club to meet other parents raising multilingual kids. --- You can find Heather on Instagram @TheFutureIsBilingual and you can write her an email at TFIBPodcast@gmail.com --- If you're enjoying this podcast, consider leaving a rating and review --- Visit The Future is Bilingual website here
Episode 40 - This Multilingual Motivation (MLM) episode is all about watching TV in your target language (TL). Why should you watch TV shows or series in your TL? What if you're a beginner? We will answer these questions and discuss what you can do to get the most out of this "study" time. --- I'd love to hear what shows you're watching or have already watched in your TL. Are there any you've heard about and are planning to start watching soon? Find me on Instagram @TheFutureIsBilingual and comment on this episode's post to keep the conversation going. If you share this episode or podcast on your social media please remember to tag me so I can see it <3 --- If you enjoy this podcast, please take a minute to leave a quick rating and review. There's a link at the top of my website to make it easy for you :) --- Click here to listen to the interview Tommy and I did for his podcast "English Podcast with Tommy" about the American TV show "This Is Us". --- Check out Marissa's website for great resources for Catalan, French, Polish, Portuguese, and Spanish! --- Please email me any comments, questions or feedback at TFIBPodcast@gmail.com
Episode 39 - In today's episode, Heather speaks with Marisol, a multilingual mom originally from Mexico but raised in the U.S. She tells us how she and her husband are raising their daughters in three languages using the OPOL (one parent, one language) method. We discuss the role their daughters' international school plays in their multilingual upbringing and how much exposure they get to all of their languages daily. Marisol reminds us that each child is an individual with their own personality type and strengths, and that we shouldn't force a language on them as it may lead to resentment. As a child of immigrants, Marisol reflects on the changes in the way bilingualism is seen in the United States and possibly around the globe as well. Now as a parent herself, Marisol and her family are about to move abroad so she talks about how they're planning for that change linguistically. Lastly, Marisol gives us some great tips to keep the minority languages and cultures alive and thriving.
Episode 38 - This Multilingual Motivation episode is all about Duolingo Events. No idea what those are? You're not alone. Whether you use the app for language learning and/or dabbling or not, these events are a great way to practice all 4 language skills and broaden your cultural knowledge. Click the link to see the upcoming Duolingo Events on their website. --- Listen to Erin's podcast "Exhaling Words" and her recent episode about Duolingo here. Follow her on Instagram and other social media @PolyglotErin --- Check out to Simone's podcast "Simple Italian Podcast" and follow him on Instagram @SimonePols --- You can follow me on Instagram @TheFutureIsBilingual, on Duolingo @HKozi, visit my website, or write me an email at TFIBPodcast@gmail.com