Audio The Third Language Model How do multilinguals preceive, experience their languages? How do their languages influence the way they perceive themselves, their identity and sense of belonging? We know that multilinguals are not a combination of multiple monolinguals in one, but a unique combination and sum of their languages that they have acquired and […]
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How much otherness can we take?
Many of us get a clearer sense of self when we live abroad, or when we travel regularly and dive into different cultures. But how much otherness can we take? The concept of ‘otherness’ is central to sociological analyses of how majority and minority identities are constructed. In one society, the representation of different groups […]
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How to keep our languages alive while living abroad
At my kitchen table conversation– session I held at the 20th FIGT conference this year in The Hague I focused on the languages we collect during our life, and how we can keep them alive while living abroad, in different countries. Why kitchen table conversation? Because that’s where all began 20 years ago at Ruth van […]
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Do your children have moving skills?
This question might seem odd, but if you move more frequently – not necessarily internationally – do your children have moving skills? We’re not among the most mobile internationals since we have children, we only moved 4 times since my son was born (now 15yo), but during our latest move with 3 children who were […]
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What is your coping style?
How do you react to challenges? Especially when they’re unforeseen? We all have our very own coping styles, plural, yes, because we may react differently depending on our competence and self confidence in that domain of our life. For example, I may actively react to a situation related to my business and not have a […]
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