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Talking to Grandma

Talking to Grandma

By: Talking to Grandma
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About this listen

 Talking to Grandma is a weekly podcast that elevates stories, science, and strategies to help you raise and teach multilingual and bilingual children. Hosted by Dr. Veronica Benavides, founder and CEO of Bilingual Generation, an organization that helps children with bilingualism in their bones stay connected to their heritage languages and cultures. She's a Harvard-educated doctora who has experienced losing, recovering, and passing on her heritage language to her children. Whether you are a parent, grandparent, teacher, researcher, school leader, or simply someone interested in the topics of language learning and language preservation, this podcast is for you. Through interviews with amazing guests and solo episodes, you will find the resources, guidance, and strategies needed to support you in your journey.

Language Learning Parenting & Families Relationships Social Sciences
Episodes
  • S4 Ep40: Navigating Bilingualism in a Multicultural Family with Elisabet De Miguel

    S4 Ep40: Navigating Bilingualism in a Multicultural Family with Elisabet De Miguel
    Dec 9 2025
    Welcome to Talking to Grandma, a weekly podcast about raising and teaching bilingual and multilingual kids. I’m Jenn Vargas-Pressman, educator, mother, and advocate for bilingualism in our communities.

    In this episode of Talking to Grandma, we sit down with Elisabet De Miguel, a bilingual educator with more than 17 years of experience and a mother raising her children in a beautiful multicultural family.

    Born in Soria, Spain, Elisabet grew up surrounded by books, music, and a deep love for learning—foundations that shaped her passion for teaching and language preservation. Now living in Houston, Texas and serving in Aldine ISD, she has dedicated her career to supporting bilingual students and helping families strengthen their children’s language development.

    In our conversation, Elisabet reflects on:
    ✨ How she balances life as both a teacher and a mom
    ✨ Practical strategies she uses at home to foster bilingualism
    ✨ The role of community, technology, and parent involvement in raising bilingual kids
    ✨ The academic and emotional advantages bilingual children gain
    ✨ How language becomes a bridge between cultures, generations, and dreams

    Whether you’re a parent, educator, or simply someone who values language and culture, this episode offers encouragement, insight, and inspiration for supporting bilingualism in your own home or classroom.

    🎧 Tune in to hear Elisabet’s heartfelt story and her wisdom from nearly two decades in bilingual education.
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    32 mins
  • S4 Ep39: The Journey of a Bilingual Educator: Preserving Culture Through Language with Fidel Martínez

    S4 Ep39: The Journey of a Bilingual Educator: Preserving Culture Through Language with Fidel Martínez
    Dec 2 2025
    Welcome to Talking to Grandma, a weekly podcast about raising and teaching bilingual and multilingual kids. Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, teacher, or just someone who cares about language and culture, this podcast is for you. Together with our guests, we’ll explore how to support bilingualism in ways that affirm identity and strengthen community.

    In this episode, we explore the powerful ways language connects us to our culture, our families, and our future through the story of Fidel Martínez—an exemplary bilingual educator originally from El Salvador with a long-standing career in bilingual education in the United States.

    Fidel shares his inspiring journey: from participating in rural community development programs in El Salvador, to immigrating to Houston, Texas, where he discovered his true calling—teaching and supporting the next generation of bilingual learners. His path is one of resilience, service, and deep commitment to multilingual families.

    In our conversation, we discussed:
    ✨ How language preserves culture and strengthens identity
    ✨ The essential role families play in bilingual learning
    ✨ Why male educators are so important in early childhood education
    ✨ How cultural competence transforms teaching and student engagement
    ✨ The academic and economic opportunities that open up through bilingualism

    Whether you’re raising bilingual kids, teaching in a multilingual classroom, or looking for inspiration to support language development at home, this episode offers heartfelt insight, practical wisdom, and a moving look at bilingual education through the lens of a dedicated Salvadoran teacher.
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    53 mins
  • 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
    Nov 25 2025
    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.

    🎧 Continue Listening: Episodes You’ll Love Next
    🔹 Advancing Equity in Multilingual Education with Dr. Conor P. Williams
    🔹 Representation & Language with Mike Alfaro (Sí Sabo Kids)
    🔹 Connecting Generations and Making Language Learning Fun with Carlos Torres (Yo Sabo The Game)
    Show More Show Less
    53 mins
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