(so why does so much advice for bilingual parents assume it does??)
Bilingualism doesn’t follow a single formula.
One-size-fits-all advice doesn't work for bilinguals
Parent's goals aren't the same
— Some parents want academic or professional levels of fluency, others just want their kids to understand grandma.
Every family's language mix is unique
— Kids grow up with different combinations of languages, accents, dialects, and levels of exposures to each language.
Children's personalities & preferences differ
— Just like some kids really take to math, others are more naturally skilled in language.
Contexts vary widely
— a child in a monolingual community has widely different needs from one in a bilingual or multilingual community.
No two families look exactly alike
— Every family is unique in it's makeup of speakers, their language use & preferences and the time they spend together.
I didn’t always know this would be my work. But when working in bilingualism research, I watched families struggle. Parents desperate to pass on their language, children caught between worlds, and so much guilt when things didn’t go “according to plan.” I knew the nuance in the conversations surrounding bilingualism in research circles but that nuance never seemed translated to parents. And I knew families deserved more than recycled advice or the one-size-fits-all strategies they were offered.
That’s why I started Bringing Up Bilinguals. A place where parents can feel seen, supported, and guided by someone who has studied the research, worked with countless families, and can give the necessary nuance to the messy, beautiful reality of bilingualism.
Hii, I'm Kat — linguist, childhood bilingualism expert, family language consultant, and founder of Bringing up Bilinguals
Here's some things I want you to know about me
And let me be clear—if you’re expecting me to hand you a cookie-cutter strategy and tell you to “just stick to OPOL” (one parent, one language), you won’t find that here. As OPOL’s biggest critic on instagram, I’ll never suggest a strategy without looking at the whole picture of your family, your environment, and your goals.
Bringing Up Bilinguals is my way of reminding parents: you’re not failing. You’re not alone. You're doing it right. And with the right plan, support, and encouragement—you and your family can continue to thrive in more than one language for years to come.
I believe that bilingualism is possible and achievable for every family — it just looks different from family to family!
I always look at the fully story, from the family goals, language preferences & lifestyle to the community they live in.
I don't believe in one-size-fits all solutions or give cookie cutter advice.
I bring evidence-based advice and strategies to common challenges faced by bilingual families.
I'm passionate about education, teaching and bringing language research to parents so they can make more informed decisions about their children's bilingualism.
I speak English, Spanish, a bit of Catalan and am currently trying to relearn French after not speaking it for years!
I've lived in 3 countries, on three continents — which has really helped with understanding bilingualism in diff contexts!
I love teaching and had originally planned to be a teacher! I've taught C2 English, Spanish to uni students, gymnastics to toddlers, & rugby to teenagers.
My research interests were, and still are, at the intersection of formal linguistics (morphosyntax girl!) and applied linguistics (language acquisition).
My graduate research focused on the acquisition of English as a heritage language in Barcelona, specifically looking at differences between native and non-native parents.
And a couple more things
READ THE BLOG
Free tips & tricks on the BUB Blog
LEARN MORE
Bilingualism Consults
BROWSE COURSES
Courses for Bilingual Parents
I've got you.
need a little support on your bilingual journey?
