Fluent Families - A guide for raising kids in a bilingual family
Written by Katharine Cannings, this book mixes practical advice and tips with accessible academic research.
When Katharine first contacted us about publishing Fluent Families, we were very excited. Not only did we know her from having her on our podcast, we were also impressed by all the amazing things she has done in Madrid. She has two decades of teaching experience, is the founder of a storytelling theatre group, and she was the host of Aprendemos en Clan on Spanish television.
This is our first educational book, and we are confident that anyone who reads it will benefit from her years of experience. What shines through is her passion for making bilingualism an accessible and normal part of life. That kind of passion is inspiring, and it is a testament to the work she does through her online course and work as a coach, helping families integrate more than one language seamlessly.
Inspiring Stories
When facing a challenge, it can be tough when you feel you are all alone.
Fortunately, Fluent Families features inspiring stories that can encourage you as you go along your bilingual journey. In chapter 7, for example, two different families share advice that worked for them. One took their child to the zoo. There, the family could practice Spanish. Another family made French seem fun by getting together with French-speaking families, and their child could make friends with peers that normalized the use of French for him. In both scenarios, the second language is made more accessible through fun activities, and these are things that are easily copied by other families.
Another thing we liked about the book was that different chapters encourage the use of milestones and planners. It’s a good, easy way to turn what can seem like a daunting challenge into something more manageable and achievable.
By Etienne Girardet @Unsplash.
Dynamic resources
Gone are the days when students learned by rote and had to robotically repeat grammatical structures. The sea-change in education is something we have witnessed firsthand. Dynamic resources are becoming more common, and this book ploughs the same furrow. There are quizzes, practical activities, customisable templates and expert advice.
Younger learners will no doubt enjoy the interactive parts of the guide, but even adults stand to learn from practical exercises that reinforce key concepts and useful theory. One of our favourite tips is encouraging the young bilingual learner to find a pen pal. This is something we did as kids, and it blends the enriching experience of making an international friend with the written word.
And as an aside, Fluent Families is something all books should strive to be - a beautiful object. It’s a lot of fun working on a book like this. For Hikikomori, we put in traditional Japanese motifs; in Draconangelus, a dragon’s eye introduced each new chapter; and this book is adorned with a host of images and design features. It is educational and aesthetic.
With all that said, it’s little wonder that Dr Michele Goldin has called Fluent Families:
‘An invaluable resource for bilingual families.’
Want to buy this book and get more culture?
Buy Katharine’s excellent book here. To listen to our podcast, follow this link.
