111: Non-native bilingual parenting with Elisabeth Alvarado

111: Non-native bilingual parenting with Elisabeth Alvarado

Author: Interviews with experts and parents sharing best practices for raising and March 8, 2016 Duration: 33:55

On this episode of Bilingual Avenue, Elisabeth Alvarado shares her journey as a non-native bilingual mother.  She shares her challenges and her successes and shares wonderful tips for parents raising kids in a language that is not the parent’s mother tongue.

On this podcast, Elisabeth shares with us:

-How she  fell in love with Spanish;
-How languages are managed in her home with the Minority Language at Home strategy;
-How awkward it felt at first to speak a non-native language to her children the first day her son was born;
-How she worked through that first fork in the road where she had to chose between English & Spanish;
-How the effort paid off and now speaking Spanish is an engrained  habit;
-How books have been helpful to add vocabulary to her days  with her children;
-How she  is preparing for when  her children get to the point where they may prefer to speak Spanish to each other;
-Some funny  interactions they have had with others when they are all together as a family;
-A proud parenting moment with family members in Peru while chatting on Skype;


Navigating the path of raising children who speak more than one language comes with unique questions and moments of doubt. Bilingual Avenue with Marianna Du Bosq exists within that space, offering conversations that feel like a supportive chat with a well-informed friend. Each episode brings voices from both sides of the journey: seasoned experts who study language acquisition sit alongside parents who are in the thick of it, sharing what has worked in their own homes and classrooms. You’ll hear honest stories about strategies that succeeded, obstacles that surprised them, and the small, everyday inspirations that keep the bilingual journey moving forward. This podcast serves as a practical companion, demystifying the process and providing tangible takeaways you can apply, whether you’re just starting out or looking to overcome a specific challenge. It’s about building confidence and community, turning the abstract idea of multilingualism into a lived and manageable reality for your family. Tune in to find clarity and connection on a road that, while rewarding, is always better traveled with a bit of guidance and shared experience.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Bilingual Avenue with Marianna Du Bosq
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