Our Mission

At Multilingual Families, our mission is to empower and support multilingual families living abroad by providing comprehensive resources, expert guidance, and a nurturing community. We aim to foster language development, cultural preservation, and connections across diverse linguistic backgrounds.

By creating an inclusive environment, the aim is to help families embrace the richness of their languages and cultures, ensuring every member feels valued and equipped to navigate the complexities of multilingual living.
Our efforts are grounded in research and best practices from the field of multilingual education and intercultural communication (Grosjean, 2010; De Houwer, 2015).

Our Vision

We envision a world where multilingual families living abroad thrive in multiple languages, celebrate their heritage languages, and seamlessly integrate additional ones while adapting to diverse cultural environments.

At Multilingual Families, we aspire to be the advocate and resource hub for these families, promoting the benefits of multilingualism and cultural diversity.
We strive to foster a sense of belonging and unity within the global community of internationals, guided by principles of intercultural competence and inclusivity (Byram, 1997; García & Wei, 2014).

Our Values

At Multilingual Families, we are committed to the following core values that guide our mission and vision, and are rooted in research and best practices in the fields of multilingual education and intercultural communication (Grosjean, 2010; De Houwer, 2015; Bialystok, 2011; Baker, 2014).

1. Empowerment: We believe in empowering families with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate multilingual living confidently. Our resources and expert guidance ensure parents and children are well-equipped to foster their linguistic and cultural heritage (De Houwer, 2015; Bialystok, 2011).

2. Cultural Preservation and Celebration: We value the rich cultural heritages that multilingual families bring to the global community. Our platform promotes the preservation and celebration of these diverse cultures, recognizing their importance in shaping identity and fostering intercultural understanding (García & Wei, 2014; Byram, 1997; Fishman, 1991).

3. Community: We value the strength of a supportive community where families can connect, share experiences, and support each other – you can start with joining our private facebook group Multilingual Families. By creating an inclusive environment, we help families feel valued and connected (Byram, 1997; Cummins, 2000).

4. Inclusivity: We celebrate linguistic and cultural diversity, ensuring our resources and support are accessible and relevant to all families. Our platform promotes the preservation and celebration of diverse cultures (García & Wei, 2014; Fishman, 1991).

5. Intercultural Understanding: We foster intercultural understanding that avoids prejudice and negative biases. Our projects (eg. webinars, online meetings, online events etc.) and resources enhance intercultural competence, essential for today’s globalized world (Byram, 1997; Bennett, 1993).

6. Expertise: We provide reliable, evidence-based advice from language consultants, speech and language therapists, and other professionals. Our commitment to excellence ensures that our families receive the best support possible (Grosjean, 2010; De Houwer, 2015; Baker, 2014).

7. Adaptability and Flexibility: We understand the unique challenges faced by families living abroad and the need for adaptable solutions. Our resources and programs are designed to be flexible and responsive to the changing needs of multilingual families in diverse cultural contexts (Grosjean, 2010; Baker, 2014).

8. Mutual understanding: We foster mutual understanding, respect, and appreciation across linguistic and cultural boundaries. Our inclusive approach ensures that every family member feels valued (Byram, 1997; Cummins, 2000).

9. Sustainability: We aim to empower families to pass on their languages and cultures to future generations, promoting a rich tapestry of global diversity. Our advocacy for multilingualism and cultural diversity supports sustainable linguistic and cultural practices (García & Wei, 2014; Skutnabb-Kangas, 2000).

References

• Baker, C. (2014). Foundations of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism. Multilingual Matters.
• Bennett, M. J. (1993). Towards Ethnorelativism: A Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity. In R. M. Paige (Ed.), Education for the Intercultural Experience. Intercultural Press.
• Bialystok, E. (2011). Reshaping the Mind: The Benefits of Bilingualism. Canadian Journal of Experimental Psychology, 65(4), 229–235.
• Byram, M. (1997). Teaching and Assessing Intercultural Communicative Competence. Multilingual Matters.
• Cummins, J. (2000). Language, Power, and Pedagogy: Bilingual Children in the Crossfire. Multilingual Matters.
• De Houwer, A. (2015). Bilingual First Language Acquisition. Multilingual Matters.
• Fishman, J. A. (1991). Reversing Language Shift: Theoretical and Empirical Foundations of Assistance to Threatened Languages. Multilingual Matters.
• García, O., & Wei, L. (2014). Translanguaging: Language, Bilingualism and Education. Palgrave Macmillan.
• Grosjean, F. (2010). Bilingual: Life and Reality. Harvard University Press.
• Skutnabb-Kangas, T. (2000). Linguistic Genocide in Education – or Worldwide Diversity and Human Rights? Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

For further reading, please visit our comprehensive list of references [here].