Steps towards successful multilingual upbringing
On February 26, 2025, a meeting on the advantages and challenges of multilingual upbringing took place at the Ivan Trinko Secondary School in Gorizia (Multi-level School with Slovene as the language of instruction in Gorizia, Italy). The event was organised by teacher Agata Koren, this year’s Osimo scholarship recipient, in collaboration with the University of Nova Gorica. The event attracted numerous parents of children attending kindergartens operating within the schools with Slovene as the language of instruction in Gorizia.
The meeting featured talks on multilingualism by Prof. Dr. Penka Stateva, Full Professor of linguistics at the School of Humanities, University of Nova Gorica, and Dr. Maja Melinc Mlekuž, Lecturer of Slovene as a second and foreign language at the same university.
The event was opened with a welcome address by Davide Clodig, Principal of the Multi-level School with Slovene as the language of instruction in Gorizia. He emphasized the importance of such events, as they create a link between researchers and parents. He noted that these gatherings are valuable in helping parents understand how multilingualism affects children’s development and how to navigate the challenges of raising children in bilingual and multilingual environments. He highlighted the significance of raising parental awareness about the benefits and difficulties of multilingualism so that they are better prepared to raise their children in a world where multilingualism and cultural diversity are becoming increasingly common.
The event was structured as an interactive workshop, encouraging active participation. In the first part of the meeting, Prof. Dr. Stateva explained how multilingualism influences children's development, discussing its cognitive, cultural, and social advantages, as well as potential challenges. She also presented several studies on multilingualism conducted by the University of Nova Gorica, including research carried out in schools with Slovene as the language of instruction in Gorizia.
Following the lecture, the participants split into groups to discuss thematic topics and share their experience. The parents engaged in discussions about their children’s speech development in bilingual or multilingual environments, the possible confusion arising from exposure to multiple languages, and the mixing of different language codes. Each group was facilitated by kindergarten teachers from Gorizia, who enriched the discussions with their professional insights.
After the discussions, Prof. Dr. Stateva and Dr. Melinc Mlekuž answered participants' questions, providing scientifically supported explanations. They used research findings to clarify how multilingualism affects cognitive development in children and offered practical advice for raising children in multilingual settings.
Parents left the meeting with new insights and practical guidance. Additionally, they received a surprise gift for their children: a bag with a wooden puzzle, recognizing the crucial role of play in language learning.
The event was not only an opportunity to gain useful information but also a chance to foster connections between parents, researchers, experts, and educators, all working together to better understand and promote multilingualism in children.
The collaboration between researchers and parents is essential for better preparing families for the challenges of raising children in multilingual environments. Such meetings serve as valuable opportunities for learning, experience sharing, and finding solutions that contribute to the successful development of children in an increasingly globalized world.
