It is not often that one gets to speak with a bilingual Latina living almost 7,000 miles away from the west coast. A thirteen-hour flight from LA to New Zealand. Yet, thanks to technology, we can be right next to each other even though it is the middle of the afternoon for me and the morning after for her.
Laura Monzon Storey is a bilingual parenting coach and the founder of the platform, atYourbilingualchild where she offers help and support to parents raising bilingual children in any combination of languages. She is fluent in three languages, Spanish, her native language, English and German. Born and raised in Argentina, she has lived in New Zealand over twenty years and is raising two bilingual children.
“I realized at a young age the value of cultivating a positive relationship with languages. They are an amazing tool that can help define us as adults. I want parents to understand the power of being bilingual. If you have the means to do it, the decision to raise bilingual children is yours, because the kids don’t have the maturity to make that decision. This is for your children!”
I invite you to watch out IGTV.
In addition to coaching parents, Laura is a translator and interpreter. She has a YouTube channel where she shares her bilingual experience and offers information and resources. One of her videos introduces parents to the Power of Being Bilingual, and many reasons to try.
Laura’s tips for raising bilinguals in any combination of languages:
- TALK, a lot! Respond, repeat
- Develop a relationship with the target language – connect
- Make it fun- music, books, cooking,trips
- If possible, start speaking the target language from birth. Don’t stop!
Laura speaks to her children in Spanish since birth and is the main Spanish input for them. At 10 and 13, they are fluent, and she is convinced that being bilingual has helped them to be more social and confident.
For more about Laura and her work on Instagram @yourbilingualchild
Thank you, Laura!
