We live in a world where those who try to create divisions between people of different countries, creeds and cultures are getting more and more vocal and who try to disrupt the stability in way that leads to discrimination, abuse, displacement of families, fear and...
global citizen
Pen pals open the world, keep friends close and bring joy
I remember it like yesterday, the first letter I received from my South Korean pen friend Yong-Suk. I was 14 and it felt like a miracle: A young boy, on the other side of the world had sat down, picked out his writing pad, put pen to paper and talked to me about who...
Why language skills matter – to me, you and our children, and the world
“Why have you chosen to write about bilingual children and languages, surely there are more important things in the world – why don’t you write about how important science is?” – this is a question I once got in a comment. The simple answer is – I believe I know quite...
Media resources for raising your little global citizen
What we need more than anything in today’s and tomorrow’s world is respect, understanding, appreciation of diversity and a global mindset. What we can do as parents to fill this need, is to ensure that our children grow up to become respectful global citizens. Knowing...
Raising Global Citizens: Q is for Questions
If we want to change any injustice in the world, we first have to question why it exists in the first place. By asking the right questions we can understand the underlying reasons and together with other like-minded people become the trigger for change. When we are...
Raising Global Citizens: L is for Language
When someone asks me who I would like to share a meal with if I could choose anyone (dead or alive), I say: Mahatma Gandhi. Not only would I meet my all-time hero and be able to soak in his grace, wisdom and vision, but I am sure we would also be served a lovely...
Bilingual children – global citizens of the future
Bringing up your children to speak more than one language has many benefits – this has been proven both through research and personal experiences of bilinguals themselves. If you have read my posts before, you know that I often emphasize the benefits to the extended...