Talking to Grandma
Talking to Grandma
Talking to Grandma is 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. She's a Harvard-educated doctora who has experienced losing, recovering, and passing on her heritage language to her children. Whether you are a parent, grandparent, teacher, researcher, school leader, or simply someone interested in the topics of language learning and language preservation, this podcast is for you. Through interviews with amazing guests and solo episodes, you will find the resources, guidance, and strategies needed to support you in your journey.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jan 10, 2023 • 45min
S1: Language Learning from the Black Perspective with Errol de Jesus of Morenita Mommy
In this episode, we talked with Errol de Jesus from Morenita Mommy about her commitment to raising her autistic son multilingual. Errol’s journey shows that while the complexities of life can take expectations and flip them upside down, forming community and connection can make language learning happen, even in hard times.
You can find Errol on Instagram (@morenitamommy) or on her blog morenitamommy.com.
Jan 3, 2023 • 39min
S1: Passing on heritage language while still learning with Annie Lee
The journey of passing on a heritage language you are still learning can be scary. In this episode, Annie Lee shares with us how she reimagined bilingual parenting from a place of fear to a place of joy. If you have doubts and fears about your own bilingual parenting journey, join us in this conversation full of wisdom and reminders to give yourself grace!
Dec 27, 2022 • 49min
S1: Racializing the Latinx experience and language learning without shame with Dr. Gloria Rosario Wallace
Dr. Gloria Rosario Wallace shared how she grew up rejecting the harmful narratives about her language and identity and how she continues to affirm language and culture as an educator, leader, and parent. Listen to the many nuggets of wisdom Dr. Gloria has to share in this episode! You can find Dr. Gloria Rosario Wallas on Twitter @GRosarioWallace.
Dec 20, 2022 • 43min
S1: Multilingual parenting with enoughness, grace, and accountability with Tamar Lawrence-Samuel
Parenting can be a juggling act. Throw in the hard work of passing on one or more heritage languages, and it can feel impossible. In this episode, Tamar Lawrence-Samuel shares her experience balancing grace and accountability on her multilingual parenting journey. If you need a reminder that what you are doing is enough, we got you covered with this episode!
Dec 13, 2022 • 45min
S1: Bilingual Parenting Mental Health with Diandra Morse of Bilingual Playdate
The process of raising bilingual children in a monolingual society is incredibly difficult and can take a toll on the mental health of a parent. In this episode, we talk with social worker Diandra Morse, LCSW, not only about parenting and bilingualism but the language of the heart and the mental load for parents raising bilingual children. If you are looking for connection and motivation on your own bilingual parenting journey, this episode is for you! You can find more of Diandra’s work on Instagram at @bilingualplaydate!
Dec 13, 2022 • 23min
S1: A story of language loss and preservation with Dr. Veronica Benavides
Linguistic oppression has plagued many cultures over the years, leaving generations unable to speak to older generations. Dr. Veronica Benavides shares her family’s story of language loss and how she is reclaiming her heritage language and culture. Are you also on the journey to reclaim what was lost? Come along for the ride!
You can find more about Dr. Veronica Benavides on our website www.thelanguageproject.co or Instagram @languagepreservationproject.
Dec 13, 2022 • 47min
S1: Multiple literacies and supporting emergent multilingualism with Dr. Luz Yadira Herrera & Dr. Carla España of the En Comunidad Collective
The role educators play in shaping a child’s connection and identity with their heritage language and culture is crucial. In this episode, Dr. Carla España and Dr. Luz Yadira Herrera reflect on how they are changing how educators support emergent multilingualism in the classroom. If you're an educator of children with bilingualism in their bones, join us for this conversation!
You can find Dr. Carla & Dr. Luz at encomunidadcollective.com
Check out their book, En Communidad: Lessons for Centering the Voices and Experiences of Bilingual Latinx Students.
Nov 16, 2022 • 3min
S1: Introducing Talking to Grandma
Talking to Grandma is a weekly podcast that elevates the narratives of people who are on the journey to preserve their heritage language. In each episode, you will learn from the stories of people going against the grain to preserve their heritage language within families and communities in a monolingual-dominant society. We highlight the challenges, successes, and lessons learned to encourage and empower others on their own language preservation journey.
If you like the sound of this, please subscribe to this podcast now and check out our website, thelanguageproject.co for additional resources. Also, follow us on Instagram @talkingtograndma to stay up to date when new episodes are launched. And a special shout out to Onward for sponsoring season one of this podcast.
See you on the next episode!
