S4 Ep38: What Families Really Want: The Truth About Bilingual Education with Dr. Conor P. Williams & Mayra Valle cover art

S4 Ep38: What Families Really Want: The Truth About Bilingual Education with Dr. Conor P. Williams & Mayra Valle

S4 Ep38: What Families Really Want: The Truth About Bilingual Education with Dr. Conor P. Williams & Mayra Valle

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 This week on Talking to Grandma, we’re hitting pause on our alumni spotlight series to bring you an eye-opening conversation about what linguistically diverse families actually want when it comes to bilingualism and dual-language education.

Despite common assumptions, new research shows that families overwhelmingly support bilingual learning—and today we unpack what the data really says, what families are asking for, and how schools can better honor their voices.

Returning guest Dr. Conor P. Williams—Senior Fellow at The Century Foundation and partner at the Children’s Equity Project—joins us to share his latest findings on multilingual education across the U.S. We’re also thrilled to welcome Mayra Valle for her first appearance on the podcast. A first-generation college graduate, Gates Millennium Scholar, and founder of Mayra V Strategy | Powered by Valle Conmigo LLC, Mayra recently led six weeks of workshops for our Houston Bilingual Generation Collectives, helping families advocate for the educational experiences their children deserve.

In this episode, we dig into what families actually value, why misconceptions persist, and how schools can design dual-language programs that align with real family priorities.

We’ll also explore how issues like accent bias, cultural identity, and family experience all intersect in shaping children’s educational journeys.

If you’re a parent, educator, policymaker, or simply invested in multilingual kids thriving, this episode offers clarity, nuance, and hope.

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