Talking to Grandma

Welcome to Talking to Grandma, a weekly podcast about raising and teaching bilingual and multilingual kids. I’m Jenn Vargas-Pressman, educator, mother, and advocate for bilingualism in our communities. In this episode of Talking to Grandma, we sit down with Elisabet De Miguel, a bilingual educator with more than 17 years of experience and a mother raising her children in a beautiful multicultural family. Born in Soria, Spain, Elisabet grew up surrounded by books, music, and a deep love for learning—foundations that shaped her passion for teaching and language preservation. Now living in Houston, Texas and serving in Aldine ISD, she has dedicated her career to supporting bilingual students and helping families strengthen their children’s language development. In our conversation, Elisabet reflects on:  ✨ How she balances life as both a teacher and a mom  ✨ Practical strategies she uses at home to foster bilingualism  ✨ The role of community, technology, and parent involvement in raising bilingual kids  ✨ The academic and emotional advantages bilingual children gain  ✨ How language becomes a bridge between cultures, generations, and dreams Whether you’re a parent, educator, or simply someone who values language and culture, this episode offers encouragement, insight, and inspiration for supporting bilingualism in your own home or classroom. 🎧 Tune in to hear Elisabet’s heartfelt story and her wisdom from nearly two decades in bilingual education.

Welcome to Talking to Grandma, a weekly podcast about raising and teaching bilingual and multilingual kids. Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, teacher, or just someone who cares about language and culture, this podcast is for you. Together with our guests, we’ll explore how to support bilingualism in ways that affirm identity and strengthen community. In this episode, we explore the powerful ways language connects us to our culture, our families, and our future through the story of Fidel Martínez—an exemplary bilingual educator originally from El Salvador with a long-standing career in bilingual education in the United States. Fidel shares his inspiring journey: from participating in rural community development programs in El Salvador, to immigrating to Houston, Texas, where he discovered his true calling—teaching and supporting the next generation of bilingual learners. His path is one of resilience, service, and deep commitment to multilingual families. In our conversation, we discussed:  ✨ How language preserves culture and strengthens identity  ✨ The essential role families play in bilingual learning  ✨ Why male educators are so important in early childhood education  ✨ How cultural competence transforms teaching and student engagement  ✨ The academic and economic opportunities that open up through bilingualism Whether you’re raising bilingual kids, teaching in a multilingual classroom, or looking for inspiration to support language development at home, this episode offers heartfelt insight, practical wisdom, and a moving look at bilingual education through the lens of a dedicated Salvadoran teacher.

This week on Talking to Grandma, we’re hitting pause on our alumni spotlight series to bring you an eye-opening conversation about what linguistically diverse families actually want when it comes to bilingualism and dual-language education. Despite common assumptions, new research shows that families overwhelmingly support bilingual learning—and today we unpack what the data really says, what families are asking for, and how schools can better honor their voices. Returning guest Dr. Conor P. Williams—Senior Fellow at The Century Foundation and partner at the Children’s Equity Project—joins us to share his latest findings on multilingual education across the U.S. We’re also thrilled to welcome Mayra Valle for her first appearance on the podcast. A first-generation college graduate, Gates Millennium Scholar, and founder of Mayra V Strategy | Powered by Valle Conmigo LLC, Mayra recently led six weeks of workshops for our Houston Bilingual Generation Collectives, helping families advocate for the educational experiences their children deserve. In this episode, we dig into what families actually value, why misconceptions persist, and how schools can design dual-language programs that align with real family priorities. We’ll also explore how issues like accent bias, cultural identity, and family experience all intersect in shaping children’s educational journeys. If you’re a parent, educator, policymaker, or simply invested in multilingual kids thriving, this episode offers clarity, nuance, and hope. 🎧 Continue Listening: Episodes You’ll Love Next 🔹 Advancing Equity in Multilingual Education with Dr. Conor P. Williams 🔹 Representation & Language with Mike Alfaro (Sí Sabo Kids) 🔹 Connecting Generations and Making Language Learning Fun with Carlos Torres (Yo Sabo The Game)

Welcome to Talking to Grandma, a weekly podcast about raising and teaching bilingual and multilingual kids. Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, educator, or simply someone who believes in the power of language and culture, this podcast is for you. Each week, we explore how to nurture bilingualism in ways that affirm identity, strengthen community, and honor our roots. This week, we’re revisiting one of our most loved episodes: a heartfelt conversation with Dr. Lizette B. Suxo, who shares her inspiring journey of reconnecting with her Indigenous heritage through the Aymara language of the Andean region. We’re bringing this story back because it beautifully reflects the spirit of our new initiative, From Roots to Cuentos — a storytelling program for Indigenous authors and artists of Abya Yala and Latin America who want to create bilingual and trilingual children’s books that celebrate their languages and cultures. ✨ Applications are open now — learn more and apply here. In this episode (originally published June 2023), Dr. Suxo shares how motherhood, cultural identity, and language learning became intertwined in her life. After becoming a parent and receiving a rare disease diagnosis, she felt a renewed urgency to pass her heritage forward by raising her son as a multilingual global citizen.  Through her story, Lizette reminds us that language is more than communication — it’s a worldview. As her yatichiri (teacher) says: “To learn our language is to preserve the way our ancestors saw, felt, and understood the world.”

Welcome to Talking to Grandma, a weekly podcast about raising and teaching bilingual and multilingual kids.  In this episode of Talking to Grandma, host Jenn Vargas-Pressman sits down with Dra. Eva Ortiz Benítez, a bilingual educator and instructional coach with K–12 experience in Mexico and Colorado, and a mamá raising a biracial, bilingual child. Eva shares practical, research-informed strategies for bilingual parenting and language development that start with a simple truth: connection comes first. From clarifying your family’s “why” to choosing approaches that fit your reality, she shows how to make bilingualism sustainable and joyful. You’ll hear concrete ideas for older and younger kids alike. Eva also lifts the pressure off parents who are the sole Spanish speakers at home. If you’re looking for real-life tools, culturally sustaining practices, and encouragement to find—or create—community, this conversation is for you.

Welcome to Talking to Grandma, a weekly podcast about raising and teaching bilingual and multilingual kids. Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, teacher, or just someone who cares about language and culture, this podcast is for you. Together with our guests, we’ll explore how to support bilingualism in ways that affirm identity and strengthen community. How do we raise and teach bilingual kids with both connection and strategy? In this episode of Talking to Grandma, host Jenn Vargas-Pressman sits down with Dr. Andrew Hernández, a Boricua educator, school leader, and proud dad raising a bilingual daughter. From building kid agency without losing family language goals to finding culture wherever you live, Andrew offers practical insights every parent can use. He also breaks down key moments for families in dual-language programs: what the elementary literacy dip really means, how schools can better partner with parents, and how to keep teens engaged by connecting language to their real interests. A must-listen for anyone raising or teaching bilingual kids.

Welcome to Talking to Grandma, a weekly podcast about raising and teaching bilingual and multilingual kids. Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, teacher, or just someone who cares about language and culture, this podcast is for you. Together with our guests, we’ll explore how to support bilingualism in ways that affirm identity and strengthen community. In this episode of Talking to Grandma, co-host Jenn Pressman welcomes friend of Bilingual Generation, Dr. Jonnia Torres Carolan, a bilingual mom, linguist, and community advocate from Denver. Jonnia shares her powerful family story of both language loss and preservation. Jonnia offers a heartfelt look at the joys, challenges, and daily decisions that come with bilingual parenting. She also brings insights from her doctoral research and her work with the Hidatsa community on language revitalization, showing how language is more than words to preserve, but relationships to honor and ways of seeing the world we can’t afford to lose. Want to learn more about her work? Send her an email! 

Welcome to Talking to Grandma, a weekly podcast about raising and teaching bilingual and multilingual kids. Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, teacher, or just someone who cares about language and culture, this podcast is for you. Together with our guests, we’ll explore how to support bilingualism in ways that affirm identity and strengthen community. In this episode of Talking to Grandma, producer Rebecca De Leon sits down with Sofía—a bilingual mother of three, entrepreneur, and community educator—whose journey captures the highs and lows of bilingual identity. From raising bilingual kids at home to creating safe spaces for cultural connection, Sofía shares how bilingualism is more than language—it’s about resilience and community. If you’re raising bilingual kids, teaching, or simply passionate about language and culture, this inspiring conversation is for you. You can find Sofia on Instagram.

Guess who’s back? After a short break, Talking to Grandma returns for Season 4...this time with a twist. For the first time ever, alumni from our Bilingual Generations Collectives are taking over the mic, bringing fresh perspectives, authentic stories, and powerful conversations. Joining producer Beck as co-host is the incredible Jenn Pressman, a Latina, mom, educator, and director of Programa familiar de lenguaje in Denver. With her roots in Colombian heritage, over 20 years of experience in education, and her journey raising bilingual kids, Jenn brings wisdom, heart, and lived experience to every conversation. This season, expect inspiring interviews, heartfelt advice, and episodes in both English and Spanish that celebrate bilingual identity, family connection, and cultural pride. Whether you’re a parent, an educator, or someone who loves stories about language and identity...this season is for you. Hit subscribe and get ready. You won’t want to miss Season 4 of Talking to Grandma.

Welcome to Talking to Grandma, a weekly podcast that elevates stories, science, and strategies to help you raise and teach multilingual and bilingual children. Hosted by Dr. Veronica Benavides, founder and CEO of Bilingual Generation, an organization that helps children with bilingualism in their bones stay connected to their heritage languages and cultures. Today, you’ll hear from the passionate duo Carolyne Crolotte and Gina Rodriguez as they explore the impact of Proposition 227 on bilingual education in California and their work to shift the narrative through the Two Languages, Twice the Opportunities campaign.  Listen as we dispel common myths and share tools and strategies to communicate the many benefits of bilingual education. Two Languages, Twice The Opportunities Materials English / Spanish Brochure English / Chinese Brochure English Social Media Toolkit Spanish Social Media Toolkit Chinese Social Media Toolkit Learn more:  First5la.org EarlyEdge California CAMPAIGN LAUNCH ENCOURAGES DUAL LANGUAGE LEARNING ACROSS L.A. COUNTY Reading by 9: 3 reasons why language is your child’s secret superpower