Mother Tongues

Our courses help parents to understand the main stages of language development and to familiarise themselves with typical features of bilingualism. We answer questions such as: why does my child prefer one language over the other? Does bilingualism slow down language development? Can a child cope with three languages? Should we adopt a strategy when choosing which language to speak to our child? Is it ok to switch language in conversation?… and many more.
Our courses and talks are based on the latest research and on many years of combined experience of raising and educating bilingual children. We tailor content to the needs and interests of the group and we give parents plenty of time to ask questions and discuss their own circumstances. Our goal is to give parents practical advice that they can put into practice immediately.

We organise talks in community centres and libraries, but you can also book a talk for your toddler group, creche, school or community group. Sometimes people prefer to attend these talks during work hours, so we also visit companies all over Ireland.

For parents who want to devise a plan for their family or who feel that they need advice tailored to their specific needs, we offer a dedicated consultancy service. An expert will be at hand to develop and sustain a language strategy in collaboration with the family.