Max comes from a mixed family where he speaks English and Mandarin at home. Being from Taiwan, Max uses Traditional Chinese characters to write and speaks a variety of Mandarin that differs from the Mandarin used in mainland China. Despite spending as much time as possible in Taiwan, Max’s mother has struggled to find Taiwanese Mandarin resources in Dublin. Although the workshops are not Taiwanese-focused, the inclusion of people speaking all languages has provided a space for community support for both Max and his mother.

Although Max enjoys going to school very much, non-Irish multilingualism is not explored or encouraged as much there. These workshops allow Max to interact with other multilingual families and show him that he is not an outlier. Max thoroughly enjoys these workshops, and his sister often wants to tag along as well. He is often seen happily speaking Mandarin with his mother while creating his next artistic masterpiece.