#45 The Multilingual Family - Why Every Language Matters with Karin Martin

00:00:00:

00:00:23: Welcome to the Culture Exchange Podcast, a place for anyone living working or leading in a global world.

00:00:31: We know what international life is really like and together with our guests

00:00:36: we explore

00:00:37: culture identity belonging at much more through personal experiences and professional expertise.

00:00:44: I'm Frauke

00:00:45: And i'm Marie-Christine.

00:00:47: If you enjoyed this episode Follow us, leave a like and recommend culture exchange to someone who might enjoy our conversations too.

00:00:57: This is Culture Exchange.

00:00:59: let's get started!

00:01:05: Families

00:01:06: living internationally language can quickly become part of everyday family decisions.

00:01:12: which language do we speak at home?

00:01:14: How quickly should our children learn the local language?

00:01:18: And what happens when they start mixing languages?

00:01:21: and how do we hold on to the language that connects them to family, culture and a sense of home.

00:01:29: So today we're talking about what it really means to raise children across languages and cultures.

00:01:35: Yeah this topic has been in my mind for quite some time As both of us, Marie-Christine and myself raised families abroad.

00:01:45: So we are really grateful that we're sitting together today with a real expert!

00:01:50: Our guest is Dr.

00:01:52: Karin Martin – A linguist, multilingual competence specialist, neuro language coach author & founder of the Multilingual Garden.

00:02:04: For more than decade she has worked with multilingual families educators and organizations, helping them navigate linguistic diversity with greater awareness confidence and apathy.

00:02:20: She's also the author of Watch Your Language Mom a guide to multilingualism A practical guide for navigating multi-lingual family life.

00:02:32: Karin, welcome to the Culture Exchange podcast.

00:02:36: Welcome!

00:02:37: Thank you so much.

00:02:38: thank you good morning and good evening and good afternoon.

00:02:42: Ah Karen it's nice to have as our guest.

00:02:45: So before we dive into your expertise We want start with something more personal A story that has shaped everything for all listeners.

00:02:56: Tell us why do this work?

00:03:00: Yes, you're right.

00:03:02: So my work has a very personal starting point.

00:03:06: it all goes back to my infancy My educational years.

00:03:13: so originally I was born and raised in Italy but my mom comes from South Europe.

00:03:20: she's bilingual German and Italian.

00:03:23: And there was a moment In my early years where my mum asked me picture if he would a good idea to speak German.

00:03:33: The teacher said, please don't do it because this will interfere with the learning of Italian especially when he comes reading and writing.

00:03:43: I was starting school.

00:03:45: that's what my mother decided.

00:03:48: she stopped using German Monolingually, we all know that it's not really monolingual.

00:03:57: We can talk about later.

00:03:58: but my starting point was to change the way I think of languages even if i understood this in life and not at very moment.

00:04:12: one phrase I read in your book, every language is a resource.

00:04:18: So i think we have to probably set the frame for our conversation.

00:04:24: so can you guide us little bit through like and i also love that you have a glossary in your books right?

00:04:30: Can you guide as well with all these definitions...so how does multilingual competence for example differ from multi-lingualism?

00:04:40: Yes, first of all let's start with what you just mentioned.

00:04:43: Every language is a research and I would add that it isn't a problem because there are so many misconceptions and false beliefs around bilingualism or multilingualism.

00:04:56: One of them has different languages more than one language in our daily life.

00:05:02: In childrens' daily lives they're confusing right?

00:05:06: And if I go back to my personal experience, i understand that my teacher based that recommendation on a misconception around bilingual development.

00:05:19: So that was the starting point.

00:05:21: And then, yes there are many different definitions.

00:05:24: Let's say multilingualism and multilingual competence as you suggested of course with many definition also in terms of research right depending on the context we're working in.

00:05:36: Multilingualism is the ability to communicate in different languages so it's a very broad definition.

00:05:43: I would add languages or dialects that's.

00:05:49: So the focus is really on communicating and not really how good we speak those languages.

00:05:55: How proficient are in these languages?

00:05:58: We can navigate life, daily lives of different languages.

00:06:04: And the way I use the term multilingual competence in my work, it's a little bit different but still connected.

00:06:12: So for me, multi-lingual competence is a combination of awareness and then informed decisions, informed actions.

00:06:23: so to make an example right?

00:06:25: In the educational context having multi-lingual competence doesn't mean that you have to learn all the languages of your students.

00:06:35: It means then, you need to be aware or the linguistic diversity of your context and it needs open and curious and yes value these languages And take informed actions in order make those languages visible to make those languages really recognize and acknowledge in the educational context.

00:06:58: That's a very concrete example.

00:07:01: Yeah, thank you!

00:07:03: So interesting.

00:07:04: I mean as Frauker mentioned both of us we actually raised families or family abroad right?

00:07:09: And having lived abroad with my own family and children this is something I can and you can also really resonate in relate to tell us a little bit.

00:07:19: for families living abroad language is rarely just about communication.

00:07:23: It's all so actually closely connected to where we feel too belong, right?

00:07:29: That that's also big factor the belonging part.

00:07:32: So what role does cultural identity play?

00:07:35: four multilingual families.

00:07:38: Yeah, a huge role.

00:07:39: A very important role I would say fundamental.

00:07:42: so when we talk about identity as you mentioned for me it all comes down to belonging.

00:07:50: So... To give an example back from my own experience When German was not using the language in the family I felt that i was cut off From part of the family right?

00:08:02: I wasn't able communicate.

00:08:06: this change years later, right?

00:08:09: So everything is good now.

00:08:10: But this what I mean if we are dropping off one of the languages part, a part of ourselves and when it comes to children language could be considered the steady bridge while everything around is moving shifting you school new country in your culture different experiences.

00:08:33: but if we have the family language city or family languages right there might be more than one.

00:08:41: There is a sense of continuity and grounding in that specific situation, so I really believe the two things go together.

00:08:53: And it's very important for family to have a clear idea on how important it is keep these family roots when it comes to languages.

00:09:06: Yeah

00:09:08: Based on your experience, I mean you have been in this business for over ten years now.

00:09:15: What do you think or which misconception causes the most damage to families?

00:09:23: So there are many misconceptions connected to raising multilingual children.

00:09:28: One of them is that having different languages at the same time might confuse children, so they're the first one and this has a consequence.

00:09:38: sometimes we tend make more space for school language in order to help integration into context with less space for home language.

00:09:47: We think brain is like box-related spaces which is not.

00:09:53: Another important misconception, which I hear family bringing up in consultation it's this idea of the perfect bilingual right?

00:10:06: You're not really bilingual if you cannot pass for native speaker in all languages.

00:10:15: But you know, that's not the real life of bilingual and multilingual speakers.

00:10:22: And research also shows us that we use languages for different purposes in different contexts with different people.

00:10:32: so every language has space.

00:10:35: Every language has a function In a child's mind.

00:10:40: So think about the context of school or kindergarten, right?

00:10:45: Sometimes a child is able to say something they learned at kindergarten maybe using specific words.

00:10:52: They learn there and maybe they haven't learned those words yet in the family language.

00:10:59: so just like a miss patch And we tend to think oh my child is not gonna learn it's not able to speak the language properly.

00:11:07: no It's simply a different context.

00:11:09: So language learning, language acquisition is really embedded to the context and that normal we don't have exact correspondence in terms of vocabulary.

00:11:21: just give you an example.

00:11:23: Can I squeeze into follow-up question?

00:11:25: Is there – because i'm interested – number of languages or a maximum number of languages, someone can actually manage that.

00:11:33: Can you raise the child with let's say three languages five languages?

00:11:38: Or does the quality suffer when quantity gets to high.

00:11:43: That's a

00:11:43: very interesting question, but I would shift a little bit the focus because it's not about how many languages.

00:11:51: is that much time we have right?

00:11:54: We only had twenty four hours.

00:11:56: so of course if you have to speak those ours among all their languages are going up with off course.

00:12:04: this means having less exposure or less input in those languages.

00:12:11: Usually the school language is or becomes through these years, the strongest one.

00:12:17: The most dominant simply because we have more contact with that.

00:12:21: but thinking about my work with families I remember a family raising a kid with five languages.

00:12:29: it was very interesting situation.

00:12:32: they had two languages in their family and then two languages on the content geographical context.

00:12:39: where were raising children Plus, they decided for an international school.

00:12:44: So that was English and the child grew up with five languages.

00:12:48: And what's interesting is to get in contact with this family years later.

00:12:52: so their child is now a teenager and obviously english has her stronger language because it's a school language.

00:13:00: but they were able to keep also their family languages which is great value, great resource anyway.

00:13:07: That's

00:13:09: so interesting.

00:13:10: Let's talk a little bit more about the home language versus local language, I really like that actually.

00:13:16: So especially for our listeners You know many of our parents will recognize this problem or face the situation.

00:13:25: How do families from your point-of view what would you suggest?

00:13:29: you know, how would two families find the balance between maintaining actually their home language and embracing the local language?

00:13:37: What are your thoughts on this.

00:13:39: Yeah well first of all I think it's important to understand that integration.

00:13:47: so with a local language learning in the local languages and keeping the homelanguage maintainers not opposite they're Right?

00:13:58: So that's the first point.

00:14:00: Yeah, it is cool

00:14:02: to have

00:14:03: a comment!

00:14:04: I say this because of what we mentioned before right... We tend to make more space for the school language and yes that's normal.

00:14:12: That's what we tend to do Because you want your child learn as quickly as possible.

00:14:17: But I feel the key point is really to create real reasons, to use a language.

00:14:26: And i'm thinking about the whole language now because at some points children want to belong to the context of their growing.

00:14:34: So if everybody, all children or school friends are using this language they might use it as well.

00:14:42: so we might observe that proficiency in a school language is growing faster and home language is you know little bit weaker.

00:14:53: but its important to keep emotional connection And the meaning really could be different for every family, but I'm thinking about keeping a connection with relatives back home.

00:15:14: Yes and also being able to have this this steady base of what we were mentioning before, right?

00:15:25: If we are constantly moving then maybe the home language could be that one point at one thing which makes us feel we belong, even if everything is changing around us.

00:15:38: We still you know um...we still belong to this family, this language, this culture.

00:15:44: so I feel it's a complex topic and he really depends on the family situation because

00:15:49: that yeah

00:15:50: you know every family situation is unique.

00:15:53: i observe yes there are some trends or also things uh which come back over and over but In reality, every family has a different unique situation.

00:16:07: Yeah, that's true.

00:16:08: But how do you... asking for a friend?

00:16:10: How do you encourage actually to keep or maintain the home language while being abroad without pressuring and also I mean you mentioned like respecting of course the choices but at the same time sometimes kids don't maybe value multilingualism in this specific age!

00:16:31: There are faces as well

00:16:32: right?!

00:16:34: help kids or teenagers maybe see the value of it before pressuring that you want to maintain a specific language.

00:16:44: Yeah, so very interesting topic and also complex.

00:16:48: I always say with gentle action no pressure right?

00:16:53: And We need to acknowledge that sometimes we do face the situation where children have a kind of refusal, they don't want their language.

00:17:04: In that specific case I always tell families to stop and observe what's behind it.

00:17:11: maybe there is negative experience or behind it may be this shame again just feeling of belonging right?

00:17:21: So yes i would say continue keep using your language and at one point if you feel the moment is wide really open speak sorry talk openly about it depending on the age of course yeah children but I would really say no pressure.

00:17:39: And sometimes a child or young adults they recognize later on value that language right.

00:17:48: so i have some very beautiful consultation with grown-up bilinguals, right?

00:17:55: Where they realize oh my god I now want to reconnect to that language.

00:18:01: Yeah because i want to connect to the part of myself so you know for those children and teenagers.

00:18:10: not really my Arabic expertise but still what would say is yes it's okay if you don't want to use it now But maybe one day this might change.

00:18:20: one day you will realize that yes, it was important to speak the language or keep it alive.

00:18:29: Interesting to reconnect actually with a language later on when your getting older.

00:18:36: so interesting.

00:18:37: also what we touched is siblings at home, sibling language right?

00:18:43: This something for how could be liked?

00:18:45: I mean we experienced this as well But my children as well, they speak a different language maybe than the mother tongue.

00:18:52: Yeah

00:18:53: themselves?

00:18:53: Yes

00:18:54: so it's very different relationship.

00:18:57: Maybe because I went to an international school So that you know speaking English together but then with her parents their mother or parent language.

00:19:06: What's your thought on this?

00:19:08: Yeah,

00:19:10: very typical situation especially when we notice that siblings have different competences.

00:19:19: one of the languages we are considering, right?

00:19:22: And a typical situation is that The first child Is more proficient in the family language than the second child.

00:19:30: Right this is something very common.

00:19:33: So why does That happen?

00:19:35: it's Very simple and It could be simply exposure.

00:19:39: so with First Child has more input, more exposure in the family language simply because all of a time.

00:19:46: you know they have parents and family language always available for them.

00:19:51: And then kindergarten starts or school starts and second child comes if they attend the same kindergarten or at least school in that language.

00:20:09: They also tend to use that language between themselves, so what happens is a second child might have a last might be less proficient in the home language or the family language.

00:20:24: So this is something that many families are worried about, but it's actually very common and we keep on observing, even in different contexts with different languages.

00:20:39: And then as you said also at different experiences and also different personalities right?

00:20:46: Every child has a specific relationship where they are languages And I think it's important not to compare, because the goal doesn't have to be perfect competence.

00:21:01: But the goals should really need a healthy relationship among children of course but also with our languages

00:21:10: But then also just to follow up on this.

00:21:13: So we should not be worried, right?

00:21:15: If they speak another language together than with the parents?

00:21:18: No

00:21:19: no that's typical and in many cases They respond to parents in a language parents are not expecting.

00:21:27: so you talk to them In your home language You get an answer into school languages.

00:21:32: That is totally fine because think about it from their point of view.

00:21:36: if they know that you know that language why should they bother using it, right?

00:21:42: So you understand the school language.

00:21:46: so in a very practical way.

00:21:49: They say well

00:21:50: my

00:21:50: mom understands our languages.

00:21:52: I just use them and know that she will understand.

00:21:54: Right!

00:21:55: It's a really practical way of thinking about languages.

00:22:00: True What i always wonder is if you are multilingual speaking different languages maybe to different levels of proficiency.

00:22:12: Does everyone has like a heart language?

00:22:15: I've once heard, so the language you are dreaming in this is your heart language.

00:22:19: Right?

00:22:20: Yeah!

00:22:21: I believe for adults as well as children we have our personal connection with languages right and this language of your heart...I'm sure each one has a language on their hearts but it doesn't need to be the native language.

00:22:37: It does not necessarily needs to feel more comfortable.

00:22:42: It really comes down to the connections you have with that language and experiences, right?

00:22:55: Or even how they express your feelings.

00:23:00: Obviously, you know depending on the competence you have.

00:23:03: You might feel more comfortable in using one language or the other and especially when it comes to share emotions we always When working with parents families We always recommend use that language in which you feel more Comfortable.

00:23:18: right because as we no languages not only a tool for communication is also away.

00:23:24: we Express and share our feelings so its It's very important to be able to do that.

00:23:33: But then, you know this preference can change through time.

00:23:36: maybe you move to another place You fall in love with another language and you realize oh wow This is the language closer To my heart.

00:23:45: so these might change depending on the context And the situation as well.

00:23:51: Yeah Thank you

00:23:53: yeah, and Karen when you actually look at research Are there any benefits beyond simply speaking in another language?

00:24:01: Are they any benefit?

00:24:02: parents often don't think about, you know.

00:24:05: In terms of research what do we actually know about longer term impact of growing up multi-linguals?

00:24:12: There are many advantages for growing up by Ninguely and Multininguely And a research shows that when children are going out with different languages They tend to develop or improve cognitive abilities, which are not related to the language.

00:24:30: Which is something very important and interesting.

00:24:33: for example this idea of being able to solve problems.

00:24:37: why problem solving one of those abilities taken into consideration.

00:24:45: And then on the long term, there is this trend or research showing that using more than one language in your daily life for obviously a long period of time might delay the onset off some cognitive disease right?

00:25:06: So it's very pioneer area of research.

00:25:10: we need studies on that, but it's connected to the idea of using different languages in our daily life.

00:25:17: It is like a gymnastic for our brain.

00:25:20: so yeah...it's very interesting and there are lots of researches in this area.

00:25:28: So when there is doubt or guilt some parents ask me are we doing this right?

00:25:36: And I always say, well if you're offering the opportunity to use different languages for your children.

00:25:44: You already making them a great gift and then it's up to them aswell looking at their long term many things happen life changes but they give that gift.

00:26:04: Yeah, but I think we can both probably relate or our listeners probably as well that There is like this worry.

00:26:12: Right?

00:26:12: So am i doing it right you just mentioned?

00:26:15: because of course We are aware That It Is a resource A gift and then You want to handle it in the right Or Appropriate way.

00:26:23: so To make everything Yeah Perfect.

00:26:26: But to do The right thing

00:26:28: yeah Forcing.

00:26:35: Maybe not...

00:26:38: Yeah, in that case it's important to have realistic expectations.

00:26:44: You know?

00:26:47: Going

00:26:47: back to this idea of the perfect bilingual rights.

00:26:50: so if a child has less contact with that language... ...less opportunities to use their language and interact with them.

00:27:00: unless they're less motivated than when I say motivated.. ..I really mean that they don't see the reason.

00:27:07: use that language, then yes it's normal the language is probably going to be weaker.

00:27:15: So realistic expectation as also one keyword always comes up when working with families.

00:27:23: and

00:27:27: I'd like to get back to reconnection with your heritage language as an adult because i think this is quite fascinating, that's a topic.

00:27:36: Because many of our listeners grew up in multilingual households.

00:27:42: some lost their heritage language Like you mentioned your own example With German for example.

00:27:49: Some chose to step away maybe as well.

00:27:54: Some never got the opportunity to fully develop it, and now as adults I want it back.

00:28:01: So can you provide us or give some practical advice on where we should start?

00:28:09: First of all, I think it's important to know.

00:28:12: It's never too late right?

00:28:14: Of course its easier when you're children not only because our brain is different but also because we have more time Right When your Children What what We do in Our Daily Life Is To Play And To Learn and To Grow.

00:28:29: We Don't Have Work We don't Have Family to you know, to reconnect with the heritage language.

00:28:41: And

00:28:42: in my experience it's really different depending on the person because sometimes can be also a kind of painful experience or maybe sad experience because you realize how much got lost when losing the connection within language and so reconnecting with that language and really seeing the value in it.

00:29:11: And usually what people do is to start small, we're a small thing so... I mean obviously you can always do a language course, that's the most common thing but also to reconnect with part of themselves.

00:29:27: To reconnect with parts of family if possible and then step by step realize it without feeling guilty again.

00:29:38: this idea or feeling guilty sometimes i have Oh, so maybe the experience with people who feel they are judged because you know They get comments like wow How come?

00:29:57: You don't know that word.

00:29:59: You're bilingual right and you grew up And you know That's made...that is So much pressure on them!

00:30:06: Another point which it important to consider really give away this pressure, it's all good you can do.

00:30:15: It will take some time but its a beautiful way to reconnect with the part of yourself that might feel deep down in your heart.

00:30:26: and yes so I guess is different for each one us But Its possible.

00:30:32: i think thats message

00:30:36: Yeah, I love that message.

00:30:38: It's really nice to reconnect.

00:30:40: it's definitely nice actually also discuss this year in the podcast.

00:30:45: Let's look into more practical advice for our listeners.

00:30:48: we touched on some already For example Really what should be then?

00:30:54: Actually do at home you know What does a healthy multilingual language environment actually look like?

00:31:03: Should families sit down and consciously discuss what their family language should be or will be.

00:31:14: you should every family need a clear language strategy.

00:31:18: Is that something we shot at home?

00:31:22: And maybe expectations as well, yeah exactly

00:31:25: talking about expectation yes and in practical terms.

00:31:29: but the first thing it's more about talking right so to understand really why is that language important?

00:31:37: for what is emotional connection?

00:31:43: We take things for granted, right?

00:31:46: Which is okay.

00:31:47: But I really believe we need to sit down and talk about language.

00:31:53: so there's a nice activity that I invite families too do it also in my book the Language Portrait.

00:32:00: So To Take Colors And Color That Silhouette According The Languages You Know would like to learn.

00:32:13: I mean, there are different ways to do that activity but the main point is after you color that silhouette You can talk about it.

00:32:21: Why did you put language A in the head?

00:32:24: Maybe because It's difficult for you or have to think a lot?

00:32:27: why didn't you Put the language B In your heart maybe Because There's a connection with Your grandparents right.

00:32:33: so The first thing Is really is To understand Okay, why Are those languages Or this language Important in the family?

00:32:41: And then depending on the context, I always say okay make a sustainable routine right because it has to be realistic.

00:32:50: So if not about sitting down at the table or desk with your child and do grammar no that's something school can't do.

00:32:58: but what you can do is create real reasons really experience positive experiences connected through their language which could mean sing songs have a book, reading bedtime stories in that language.

00:33:14: And another practical thing family do is to have... To make space for the language like to have our language corner right?

00:33:23: So I remember some pictures of family I worked with.

00:33:26: they made a corner with books and pictures or the family members you know to recap back to their language.

00:33:35: Another point is obviously to have fun because You know, children will have many teachers in their life.

00:33:42: Many teachers and educators but parents you know mom-and dad it's only one.

00:33:48: so... ...you don't want to make this like a homework.. ..but you want to have fun with that language!

00:33:53: We want to create positive experiences for the child who can connect them with positive emotions.

00:34:02: That is very important definitely

00:34:06: So true right?

00:34:06: I mean You already mentioned your book as well, so let's talk a bit about the book.

00:34:13: And you also found it in the multilingual garden space where people can access resources guidance and support for their multi-lingual journey.

00:34:24: So tell our listeners little bit about all these different tools and platforms.

00:34:31: Yeah sure The multi-lingual garden is the name of my activity.

00:34:38: I started more than ten years ago and the concept behind it has connected to my experience in Austria, a place where nature Yeah, in my opinion the most beautiful thing uh and those places.

00:34:53: And I really see languages as flowers, as plants.

00:34:57: they need to be nurtured.

00:34:59: you have a good environment grow They need light and then they need water and at the same In the same way languages also need this right?

00:35:10: They need a positive environment Right, so that was my starting point.

00:35:20: And I started because when I moved to Austria many years ago... ...I noticed many misconceptions around multilingualism and I noticed they were taking decisions based on fear or belief instead of research and information which is backed up by research.

00:35:51: So that was my starting point, And after ten years I decided to collect everything i learned in my book, what's your language mom?

00:35:59: Which way?

00:36:01: the First in Italian, in my native language.

00:36:05: The English version is the translation as a second book.

00:36:10: I wrote it in Italian because i thought that was a nice way for me to give back to my country.

00:36:16: you know Italy's also a country which welcomes many different people with migration etc.

00:36:26: With different languages and different cultures.

00:36:28: so i think its important discussion around the topic of raising but also working with multilingual children.

00:36:37: And I wanted this book to be very practical, that's why i called it guide!

00:36:42: I started every chapter...with a story?

00:36:47: Yeah, yeah.

00:36:47: It

00:36:47: was an anonymous way you know not to make stories recognizable But every chapter has a story about bilingual or multi-lingual child.

00:36:56: and then I also decided to put some practical suggestions at the end, but also checklists.

00:37:02: And i noticed

00:37:03: that you know it's

00:37:06: very practical because many times they ask me okay but what can we do?

00:37:10: And I give him a checklist.

00:37:11: look did you do this?

00:37:14: and so let's create a language environment, let's buy books.

00:37:19: Let's find songs and so on and so

00:37:22: forth.".

00:37:22: So that was the idea behind the book to give some practical tool for families.

00:37:30: I also realized it sometimes is difficult to read research papers.

00:37:36: we simply don't have time right?

00:37:39: Yeah, very accessible language.

00:37:43: And that's why the stories and metaphors within books so complex concepts can be understood then digested

00:37:58: To our listeners, if you're listening and you recognize yourself in what we've talked about today whether your parent an educator or also adult right reconnecting with a heritage language the book.

00:38:09: And of course Your multilingual garden as well.

00:38:13: all The resources are wonderful support.

00:38:17: Yeah

00:38:17: Karen is there one thing?

00:38:19: You would like to let us know on our listeners but We haven't yet.

00:38:25: Talk more in detail

00:38:27: Of course, I do have a final message we can share with our listeners which is the concept of linguistic empathy.

00:38:36: and what is that?

00:38:37: Linguistic empathy?

00:38:39: for me the effort, the intentional efforts to understand someone beyond their accent.

00:38:50: Beyond their proficiency in that language and focusing more on the connections and a relationship with that person.

00:38:59: And this is concept I see.

00:39:04: we can use it as family context so low down expectation and celebrate small wins of your children and we can see this also in the educational context.

00:39:15: So again, cherish value respect or the languages of your students even if you don't speak the language.

00:39:22: is that totally fine?

00:39:23: You can still be open and curious And I also see this concept applied In adults world like a professional context right when We work in different language.

00:39:35: now our foreign language need to be patient with ourselves our co-workers.

00:39:41: So I think that's a nice way to close the

00:39:46: conversation.

00:39:47: Yeah, I love that linguistic empathy!

00:39:49: Yes...I'm quite sure that our listeners enjoyed this episode as well.

00:39:54: so we all have probably so many questions still to ask you where

00:39:59: can

00:40:00: we at our listeners?

00:40:01: Where can we reach?

00:40:05: Thank you.

00:40:06: The best way is to have a look at my website which is www.

00:40:11: the multilingual garden dot com.

00:40:13: so it's quite easy to remember.

00:40:15: if you remembered an A in the stories of plants and flowers, And that's where I post reflections, I share aspects of my work.

00:40:30: Where i connect with people...I feel the social media are like the most and I share most of my works.

00:40:39: so thats a nice way to connect!

00:40:41: On my website you know there is free guide for parents, free templates..people can explore little bit more the linguistic environment and I'm happy to connect with everyone.

00:40:55: We put it also in our show notes for our listeners, thank you so much for being out guest today!

00:41:01: Thank

00:41:01: you very

00:41:03: much for having me.

00:41:04: And i think what stays with us is every language as a resource not a barrier.

00:41:10: Yes absolutely.